Kuba Mboom Mask from the Congo

The Kuba Mboom Mask, also known as Bwoom, is a mythical figure in Kuba mythology. It's one of three main figures in Kuba mythology and is often depicted as a royal mask. These masks are elaborately decorated with various materials, including cowrie shells, beads, seed pods, copper sheeting, goatskin, and hair

According to legend, masking was first introduced by a woman who carved a face on a calabash, which became the original model for initiation masks. Later, men took over the invention. The cowrie shells on the mask symbolize prestige and wealth while the hair and fibre elements add to the mask's overall ornate design. In fact, when the Bwoom mask is worn in masquerade, the entire body of the mask-wearer is covered in these decorative elements, indicating wealth and royal status

Examples of these masks can be found in various museums and collections, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art.