Mask "pwoom itok" · D. R. Congo, Kuba · ID: 3051619
Elmar Wellenhöfer, Bergisch Gladbach, Germany
Description
wood, pigments, metal,
This mask is known as “pwoom itok”, ‘“ishendemala”, “ishyeenmaal” or “shene malula”. It can be found among various Kuba groups, including the Bushoong and the Ngeende.
What the “pwoom itok” mask represents remains a matter of some speculation, but it may have originally meant to depict a wise elder. The mask is used at the adult initiation rituals of boys.
Emil Torday and Thomas Joyce write, that this mask type named by them as “shene malula” is among the Bushoong worn by members of the “babende” society. This society was responsible for the apprehension of criminals.
The object Mask “pwoom itok” with the object ID 3051619 was last part of the auction Collectors’ Items Sale at September 24, 2025 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 256.
You can find more Masks and other popular object types on our related topic pages. You may also be interested in our page on African art.
Comparing literature
Herreman, Frank & Constantijn Petridis (ed.), Face of the Spirits, Tervuren 1993, p. 138 f.