Headdress: Mukenga
Artist: Kuba Peoples (African)
Date: early 20th century
Dimensions:
H. 21 3/4 in. (55.3 cm); W. 13 1/8 in. (33.3 cm).
Medium: Raffia, wood, beads, shells, leopard skin, palm fibers.
Place of Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo
Classification: Sculpture
Credit Line: Purchased with funds from the Libbey Endowment, Gift of Edward Drummond Libbey
Object number: 1973.13
Label Text:During the 19th century, Kuba rulers traded elephant ivory through long-distance trade routes, resulting in great wealth and establishing Kuba as a regional power. The Mukenga mask takes the form of an elephant to symbolize rulership. A Kuba proverb states, “An animal, even if it is large, does not surpass the elephant. A man, even if he has authority, does not surpass the king.” Mukenga appears at funerals for deceased members of the Kuba men’s initiation society. The abundant cowrie shells on the mask’s “trunk” are a sign of wealth and indicate that the ruler or officeholder is descended from Woot, the founding ancestor of Kuba culture who came from the sea.
Not on view
In Collection(s)