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Royal Man’s Headdress (Kupash) (Primary Title)
Unknown (Artist)
The conical kupash hat, decorated with beads and cowries, is worn by a ranking man in the royal court as a sign of his high status. On the very top of the hat is a hammered copper disc, a sign of royal ownership. If a kupash is attached to the top of a moshambwooy mask, the two become moshambwooy muyum. The muyum, chief priest and guardian of tradition, is keeper of the royal amulet and must be present for the investiture of a king.
Arthur and Margaret Glasgow Fund
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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