Ngady a Mwaash Mask
Unknown Artist
- Date
- TechniqueWood and beads
- Size27x20x35
This is a wooden mask belonging to Queen Ngady a Mwaash of Kuba in the Democratic Republic of Congo. It is decorated with hundreds of beads, shells, pieces of cloth and fruit peels in geometric shapes typical of Kuba art. The mask embodies anew, in textual form, the mythical sources of Kuba and the monarchial power struggles. The Queen, Ngady a Mwaash, was viewed as the ideal beauty among the subjects of Kuba. Her husband, King of Kuba AMbooy and his brother Bwoom fought for the privilege of winning her heart.
Photography: Shuki Kook