Democratic Republic of Congo

Kuba

Wood, raffia, trade beads, cowrie shells, hide, fiber
Mid 20th century
Helmet height: 15.5 in; Width: 12.75 in; Depth: 14 in
Other – Regalia – Headdress

The Bwoom helmet headdress is the oldest of the three royal headdresses  used by the Kuba.  It was possibly introduced in the seventeenth century and is moreover associated with the non-aristocratic, common man.  The masqueraders appear at ceremonial occasions, embodying different characters depending on the context, to reaffirm they are the ruling class.  They perform rituals such as the funerals of royalty and at boys’ initiations.  Bwoom represents the nature spirit Ngeesh. As part of the royal headdress  trio, he personifies an insubordinate character who struggles with his brother Woot, who is recognized as the creator god and first king, for power and for possession of his wife and sister, Ngaady a Mwaash.

This carved wooden helmet headdress is embellished with glass beads and cowrie shells throughout. (The white and black colors are all beads and not pigment, which is hard to distinguish in the picture.) Top and back of the head, neckline, and long cloth chin piece are decorated with cowrie shells in a grid-like cross pattern. The chin piece is attached to a flaring ring of cloth stitched to the wood through drilled holes in the bottom of the mask. Cloth additionally covers the entire headdress aside from the ears and eyes which are exposed wood. Across the face are geometric patterns, notably triangles, of black and white glass beads. Below the eyes, around the top of the head, and on the nose and mouth are more curvilinear designs. An interlocked set of loops in an X-shape is also prominent just in front of the ears. Inside of the helmet is dark, possibly painted or charred wood.