Mask (mbuya)
Artist
Western Pende artist
Date20th century
MediumWood, paint, and cloth
Dimensionsheight, width, and depth: 12 1/2 × 7 1/2 × 5 1/2 in. (31.8 × 19.1 × 14 cm)
ClassificationsSculpture
Credit LineGift of Bob Bronson
Object numberG.76.20.17
On View
On viewMbuya are also used in men’s initiation ceremonies and in hunting and planting rites. Masqueraders imitate the behavior of various admirable and undesirable village characters such as the chief, a hunter, a flirtatious young woman, the village clown, and a palm-wine drinker. These performances were used to teach moral lessons and maintain order in the community. Since the 1930s, the masquerades have become increasingly secular. They survive as income-producing public entertainments.Exhibition HistoryRaleigh, NC, North Carolina Museum of Art, "The People's Collection, Reimagined," October 7, 2022–present. Object Rights Statement
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