Royal Mask – Beads, Cowry, Raphia, Wood – Bwoom – Kuba – DR Congo

Beautiful BWOOM Royal mask. This Kuba mask from DR Congo is richly decorated and with fine details.
Materials: wood, cauri shells, raphia and African beads.
Good condition with traces of tribal use.
Unique mask for the collector of ancient African ethnographic art.

There are more than twenty different types of masks that function within the men’s initiation society.
Bwoom’s specific identity varies according to different versions of the myth. He may represent the king’s younger brother, a person of Twa descent, or a commoner. Embodying a subversive force within the royal court, the Bwoom masquerade is performed in conflict with the mask representing Woot.
Total length inlcuding raphia: 60 cm