Ancestor Spirit Mask

Mukudj

Gabon

Central Africa

20th Century

Collected by naturalist and philanthropist, Eli Weiss in the 1980’s.

14" tall x 10" wide x 6" deep

Carved Wood, Earth Pigments and Kaolin.

  Among the Punu of southern Gabon, the visual focal point of a dance known as mukudj is a mask whose features are inspired by the most beautiful woman in a community. These masks are transformed into otherworldly spirits when empowered with white kaolin drawn from riverbeds associated with the ancestral realm, and are activated during spectacular acrobatic performances executed on stilts.

  The mukudj mask (also called okuyi, mokoi, ukuyi, or mbwanda) simultaneously represents an ancestor spirit and an idealized woman. The diamond pattern on the forehead and squares on the temples represent the scarification marks common among Punu women and emphasize the symmetry of the face. The mukudj is danced by male members of the Mwiri Society on very tall stilts at births, funerals, initiation ceremonies for adulthood, and other major social events to invoke the approval of ancestor spirits.

  The Punu reside on the left bank of the Upper Ngoume River (Gabon) and belong to the group of tribes known as Shira which were originally part of the Luango kingdom of Angola. With the Eshira, the Lumbo, the Vili, the Galoa, and the Vungu people, the Punu migrated northwards during the 18th century and settled in the area where they continue to inhabit to this day. They live in independent villages divided into clans and families, and social cohesion is ensured by a society known as moukouji. Its primary role is to regulate community life with regards to social and judicial matters, and mainly it applies itself to the neutralization of evil forces. To this end, officiates of moukoudji utilize a cult kit that includes statuettes, human relics and masks.

Great Earth LLC

Carbondale, Colorado

Representing the Eli Weiss Collection of African Art.  

A lifetime of travel, passion, activism, philanthropy and genuine humanity lead to the accumulation of these wonderful objects spanning a great breadth of the African continent. 

A vast collection of Significant works of Art & vintage ‘Of Culture’ craft works produced for collectors.

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