Funerary Object (mboongitool) (work of art)
Artwork Info
Key Ideas
- This is a funerary object (or funerary gift) made from camwood or tukula. It is decorated with carved geometric patterns. The worn areas of the object reveal a red-orange color beneath the dark brown surface.
- This object is from the Kuba Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Bakuba or Bushongo. It is a traditional kingdom in Central Africa.
- Tukula is a prized material in the Kuba Kingdom. It is made from powdered camwood. The powder can be mixed with palm oil to create a paste. The paste is used as a textile dye, a paint for objects and faces, and to anoint the dead. The paste is also baked into blocks that are carved with designs and presented as mboongitool (funerary gifts).
- The purpose of this funerary gift was for guests to take it home and use the tukula powder in memory of the deceased person.
Learn More
This funerary object or mboongitool comes from the Kuba Kingdom. The Kuba Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Bakuba or Bushongo, is a traditional kingdom in Central Africa. This object is made from camwood or tukula. It is decorated with geometric patterns that are typical of Kuba skirts, cloth, and cosmetic boxes. The object is dark in color, but the worn areas show a contrasting red-orange color underneath.
Tukula is a prized material in the Kuba Kingdom. It comes from the powdered heartwood of camwood. It is made by rubbing two pieces of heartwood together, which produces a red powder. The powder can be mixed with palm oil to create a paste. This paste is used as a textile dye, a paint for objects and faces, and to anoint the dead. The paste is also baked into blocks that are carved with detailed designs and presented as funerary gifts. The purpose of an object like this one would have been functional. It was made of tukula powder that funeral guests could take home and use. Each time they used some of the powder from the block, they would remember the dead and honor their memory. This ensured the afterlife of the deceased. The broken corner of this object suggests that it was used for its intended purpose.
Tukula is also a cosmetic and health product for skin. It is valued for its antiseptic, antibacterial, anti-inflammatory, and anti-aging properties. The color red is important in Kuba culture. Tukula is used to ornament the face, hair, and chest during dances and important ceremonies. Tukula is similar to other plants around the world that have been historically used to make red dyes and pigments, such as madder and brazilwood.
Additional Resources
Resources for Teachers
- Read a short essay about the Kuba Kingdom.
- View an example of a Kuba cosmetic box.
Resources for Students
- View a similar object at the Princeton University Art Museum.
- View a tukula mortar at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Images
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Funerary Object (mboongitool)
A dark brown, flat, rectangular object set against a gray-toned backdrop. The object has flared corners and is decorated with carved geometric designs. The top left corner has been broken off. The worn areas of the object reveal a red-orange color under the dark brown.
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KUBA ARTIST, Funerary object, 2017_6_13, view B