Ngady Mwaash Mask, 20th century
Bushoong Kubaexpand_more
Wood, cloth, cowrie shells, beads, pigment, plant fibersexpand_more
Gift of David and Sara Liebermanexpand_more 2001.198.17
Not on Viewexpand_more
The Bushoong believe that in order to achieve balance in life, it is important to connect with their ancestors. The spirit world acts as an intermediary to the ancestors by communicating important guidance to the living.
Like many cultures, death is a natural event in the life cycle, and is seen as a transition rather than an end. For the Bushoong, funerals are extremely important ceremonies because although it is a time for mourning, it is also a time for celebrating the person's transition into the afterlife.
Typically, the Bushoong perform a masquerade that honors tradition and heritage during funeral ceremonies. It is through their performance that the masked dancers reenact their origin story. The Ngady Mwaash mask shown here, personifies the wife of the ancestral king Woot who is represented by the mask Mwaash Mbooy. The two of them share their history with the observers as they tell the story of how they came to lead their people.
Details
- Title
- Ngady Mwaash Mask
- Role
- Artist
- Accession Number
- 2001.198.17
- Curator Approved
This record has been reviewed by our curatorial staff but may be incomplete. These records are frequently revised and enhanced. If you notice a mistake or have additional information about this object, please email collectionsdata@artsmia.org.
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