Woot!

A few weeks ago, I posted a mask which resides in New York City at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Here is another amazing mask that resides not far away, in the Brooklyn Museum. My Congolese roots were most intrigued when I found this gem on Wikimedia.

The Kuba Kingdom (also Kuba, Bakuba or Bushongo) is a pre-colonial Central African state bordered by the Sankuru, Lulua, and Kasai rivers in the southeast of what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire). ~ Wikipedia

“Kuba mythology revolves around three figures, each represented by a masquerade character: Woot, the creator and founder of the ruling dynasty; Woot’s spouse; and Bwoom. Bwoom’s specific identity varies according to different versions of the myth. He may represent the king’s younger brother, a person of Twa descent, or a commoner. Embodying a subversive force within the royal court, the Bwoom masquerade is often performed in conflict with the masked figure representing Woot.” ~ Wikimedia

Think of this the next time someone says … WOOT!

Image Credit

Brooklyn Museum – Wikmedia Creative Commons

Did you enjoy this article?

Please let the author know by leaving them a comment below!

And, subscribe to our free weekly digest!

Simply add your email below. A confirmation email will be sent to you.

Email

Recent Gil Namur Articles:

• MotoArt – Functional Art From Vintage Aircraft
• The Thagomizer!
• Life As A Human Is Three Years Old!
• Woot!
• The Faithful Pray For Rain