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Mask
Ngady a Mw
unidentified Congolese
Congolese
----
undated
This mask is the female counterpart of the royal mosh¹ambooy (CMS no. 373). Called ngady a mwaash , it represents Mweel the incestuous sister/wife of Woot, the mythical founder of the royal lineage. Women may wear this mask in dances withmosh¹ambooy and bwoom (Cornet 1971: 138). The ngady a mwaash type is characterized by a naturalistic face, usually painted with intricate designs composed of alternating light and dark triangles. A band of beads divides the face vertically, passing down over the nose, mouth, and chin. -- Professor Christopher Roy, School of Art and Art History, University of Iowa
Southern Savannah Africa Congo (Zaire)
Kuba
Height: 14 inches
Wood, Fiber
The Stanley Collection
University of Iowa. Stanley Museum of Art
x1986_374
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wood (plant material) fiber
183425165
Worn in dances reenacting myths.
Initiation Governance
Represents Mweel