Mask and fly-whisks
The mask and fly-whisks are from the Kuba people in the Democratic Republic of Congo. James Robinson is deeply interested in African history and culture and has devoted 12 years to studying the Kuba people in his research on social institutions. The mask is a "bwoom", one of three primary masks used to narrate the history of the kingdom and retell a few key historic events. The fly-whisks, which are useful for whisking away flies, are also attributes used in this context. The fly whisk is a traditional symbol of power throughout central and eastern Africa.
James Robinson donated the mask and fly-whisks to the Nobel Prize Museum in 2024.
