Punu is the language of the Bapunu, second largest ethnic group in Gabon in terms of population. It’s a Bantu language, spoken in the Tchibanga area. The increasingly important movement of Bapunu people towards larger urban areas is causing a gradual loss of their language and cultural knowledge.

What is the Mukuji?

The Mukuji is one of the white masks of the Punu tribe from Gabon.  The term Mukuji designates the mask, the dance and the entire ceremony. The masks are worn by men but  represent female figures, with the characteristic braids of the female members of the Punu tribe, almond-shaped eyes and scarifications on the forehead and temples. These scarifications represent each of the nine Punu clans.

Powder from the padauk tree, white kaolin clay and charcoal are used to create the red, white and black colours of the mask. Today these natural substances are often replaced by paint.

The wearer of the mask dances on stilts over two metres in height shaking a handful of small branches to banish evil spirits. He wears a costume made of raffia, covered with a loincloth and the skin of a genet (a cat-like mammal found almost exclusively in Africa). Around him, the dancers form concentric circles and call out to the spirit of the mask.

The Mukuji is a celebratory dance which is performed, for example, in the event of the birth of twins. It is becoming increasingly popular and can be performed on days of national celebration or at political demonstrations. This ceremony was filmed in Loango (25 kms from Tchibanga on the Tchibanga-Moabi road) in the Nyanga province in June 2009.

The Mukuji Rite

Linguist : Jean-Marie Hombert
Anthropologist: Thierry Nzamba Nzamba
Image and sound: Luc-Henri Fage
Translation: Marie-Josée Awanhet
Editing: Caroline Laurent