Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo – formerly Zaire)

Ngady a Mwaash mask

20th century

Cloth, glass beads, cowrie shells, wood, paint, hide

Private Collection

          Ngady a Mwaash is one of the three royal masks the Kuba wear in a masquerade in honor of the Kuba King. The masquerade performance acts out, or recreates, the origins of the Kuba kingdom. Mwaash, also know as Woot, is the first Kuba King from whom all Kuba people claim to have descended. Ngady a Mwaash means, "Pawn of  Mwaash". She is both the sister and wife of Mwaash, and regarded as a pawn because she attracts followers for her king.

          According to legend, a former queen introduced this mask to the Kuba people to promote the cultural role of women in Kuba society. Ngady a Mwaash, as manifested in this mask, represents complete beauty, the female ancestor and the essence of womanhood.  The black and white triangle pattern on her face symbolizes the hearthstones of domesticity. The ochre, white and black diagonal stripes under her eyes represent tears of hardship suggestive of the woman’s difficult experiences in life. The white cowrie shells along the hairline are a traditional form of currency in sub-Saharan Africa, thus symbolizing wealth and status. Many other Kuba artforms are also adorned with geometric patterning, including most particularly the raffia textiles (also represented in this exhibition) that mourners and the corpse wear during funerals.

          The dance costume that the masquerader wears is made of the types of cloths that women typically wear. However, as in most African cultures, Kuba women are not allowed to wear the mask. Therefore, Ngady a Mwaash mask is always worn by a man.

                                                                                              Sarah Edwards ’02