The triangular designs painted on this bark cloth ensemble are the same as those painted onto masks representing Mweel, the mythical woman from whom the Kuba royal dynasty descends. Bark cloth forms the base layer of the garment worn by the dancers who perform as Mweel and her male counterpart, Wóót. Across central Africa, bark cloth is frequently associated with history and the past. The BMA purchased this example from Prince Mikoom Lyeen Yemaam, a member of the Kuba royal family, in 2007.