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Special Exhibitions | |
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Gallery of Sub-Saharan African Art |
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Gallery of Sub-Saharan African Art
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Curator's Highlight Tour
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Helmet mask
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Helmet mask Among the Bushoong, the central Kuba group, a wooden helmet mask known as bwoom forms a triad with a female face mask and a non-wooden helmet mask.All three masks are related to the kingdom and are protagonists in the reenactment of a mythical drama of Kuba origins. However, bwoom is also made and used in many stylistic variations by other Kuba groups outside the Bushoong capital. There, it appears in contexts other than the royal court, such as the men’s initiation society. When not danced, the mask is carefully preserved by its owner as a symbol of the continuity of his family. With its bulbous forehead and large triangular nose, bwoom has been identified as a pygmy, a commoner, or a rebellious individual. Page 8 of 9 | On the next page: Mask |
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