Mwash Am Mbouy Mask

Helmet masks of this kind are known among the Kuba-Bushoong as Mwash am mbouy. This is one of the three so-called royal masks of the Kuba, the others being the Bwoom 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 Mwash am mbouy mask is considered by the Kuba Bushoong to be the original mask of their people – the other types deriving from interaction with groups from the North or South. The Bushoong believe this mask represents Woot, the primary ancestor of the Bushoong people, and that the mask was created when an individual saw an ‘ngesh’ or a nature spirit that looked like this mask, and commanded them to dance with this mask for aid in times of need.

The Mwaash a Mbouy is the property of the chief of the village, though the chief may on occasion give the mask to a dancer who excels in the dancing associated with this mask. This type of mask is usually buried with its owner; thus older examples are often difficult to come by.

This fine old mask probably dates to the latter part of the reign of Nyimi Bope Mabinch (1939- 1969) and was rebeaded 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 and Kete/Bushoong villages near the capital.