Bwoom Mask

Helmet masks of this kind are known among the Kuba-Bushoong as Bwoom. This is one of the three so-called royal masks of the Kuba, the others being the Mwaash a Mbouy and the Ngaady a Mwaash.

In reality it seems that the concept of a triad of "royal masks" has been grossly oversimplified. In truth, the Kuba-Bushoong produce a diversity of masks, and many can perform by themselves or in conjunction with lesser known initiatory or village masks.

The Bwoom mask is quite possibly the autochthonous mask of the region, with variants in nearly all of the Kuba sub-groups. Though Bushoong folk tales exist to explain its appearance as a pygmy or a hydrocephalic, the mask may have more in common with other large masculine helmet masks dispersed over the wider general area.

Unlike other Kuba masks such as the Mwaash a Mbouy, which is usually buried with its owner, the Bwoom may be passed down from one person to another. Thus it is not unusual to find old, in some cases ancient, Bwoom masks still being used by young dancers.

This fine old mask probably dates to the reign of Nyimi Bope Mabinch (1939- 1969) and was re-beaded by order of the current Nyimi, Nyimi Kwete sometime after 1971. Therefore, the beadwork on the mask is newer than the mask itself, which is quite common among the Kuba.

Masks of this style and form were from the villages close to the Bushoong capital at Mushenge, though this is not a royal mask, but from one of the many Bushoong villages near the capital.