Helmet Mask (Mukenga)
Possibly late 19th to mid -20th century
Kuba Kasai region, Democratic Republic of the Congo Central Africa
Democratic Republic of the Congo
The mukenga mask is worn along with a richly layered costume of raffia and beaded ornaments at funerals of titleholders in the northern part of the Kuba Kingdom. Its form and materials comprise elements associated with status and leadership, including cowrie shells, leopard fur, monkey hair, glass beads, and red tail feathers of the African gray parrot. A prominent trunk and two tusks refer to the elephant, the supreme symbol of wealth and leadership among the Kuba.
Wood, glass beads, cowrie shells, feathers, raffia, fur, fabric, thread, monkey hair, and bells