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World Cultures
African
Ceremonial Artifacts ➔ Helmet Mask
Identifier:
2024.89.1Description:
This helmet mask, called a Mukenga, is from the Kuba people of the Democratic Republic of the Congo and is a variant of the royal Mwaash aMbooy mask. Representing an elephant's strength and majesty, it has a trunk-like extension at the top. Masks such as this personified Wóót, the King and founding ancestor of the Kuba, and were worn for initiation ceremonies and funerals. It has a natural fiber base and raffia trim around the bottom edge as well as at the end of the trunk. Cowrie shells and beads of red, green, black, yellow, and white decorate the mask throughout and the face features leopard fur.This mask was gifted to Lynn DeMoss by the Kuba people of the Belgian Congo (now the Democratic Republic of the Congo) between 1957 and 1960 when he served as a missionary for the Methodist Church at Mulungwishi in the Haut-Katanga province. During his time in Africa, Demoss often traveled to nearby villages and collected many objects to document his travels.
Date:
circa 1955Materials:
Raffia, Natural Fiber, Cowrie, Beads, FurDimensions:
16.75"" h 17"" w 23"" dCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 1Source:
Gift of Mariel DemossRelated Entities:
Mariel DeMoss (donor) Kuba (creator) Lynn DeMoss (is related to)"Lynn Allyn DeMoss, age 89, died on February 25, 2024, at Clark Retirement Community in Grand Rapids after a short illness.
Lynn, a Christmas baby, was born in Wabash, IN. When he was eight months old, he left the Lower 48 with his parents, educators with the Bureau of Indian Affairs, to live in Alaska until evacuation after Pearl Harbor in 1942. Those first eight multicultural years provided Lynn with a profound and abiding love for all God's people.
After four years back home in Indiana, Lynn moved, with his parents and sister, to Big Rapids, MI in 1946. His junior high and high school years were a time of making many lifelong friends. Year after year, Lynn faithfully attended all-school reunions in Big Rapids as a member of the Class of 1952. He was honored as Alumnus of the Year in 2013.
After his freshman year at Ferris State University, Lynn transferred to the University of Michigan, where he graduated in 1956. He became an active member of Wesley Foundation at Ann Arbor First Methodist Church. Just weeks before his death, he took great delight that his beloved Wolverines won the National Championship.
As a young adult, Lynn experienced God's call to ministry at Lake Louise Senior High Institute, a Methodist youth camp near Boyne Falls, MI. He enrolled at Garrett-Evangelical Theological Seminary in Evanston, IL in 1956. There he met Lois Likes, who was to become his wife. Lois had served as a short-term missionary in Algeria. Inspired by Lois and others, Lynn took a break from seminary. He served three years in the Belgian Congo with the Methodist Board of Global Ministries, teaching in the secondary school at Mulungwishi. Thus began a lifelong love of Africa and involvement in mission.
Lynn married Lois on July 23, 1960. He graduated from G-ETS with a Master of Divinity in 1963. He served Bethel Methodist Church in Elkhorn, WI, Coleman Faith and North Bradley Methodist churches before the family grew to welcome Jeffrey and Jennifer. Over the next 31 years, Lynn served as the senior pastor of Fremont Methodist, Albion First UMC, Muskegon Central UMC, Grand Rapids First UMC, and Lansing Central UMC. From every pulpit, Lynn preached out of the depth of wisdom and faith that he received "sitting on a park bench with God."
Lynn was active in leadership in the West Michigan Conference of The United Methodist Church. He received an honorary doctorate from Adrian College in 1982. His children, Jeff and Jen found life partners, marrying Heidi Diehl and Dan VanderPloeg. Grandchildren joined the family circle in 1996 (twins David and Drew) and 2010 (Delaney).
Lynn married Kay Starbuck Lukins on August 29, 1993. He retired from parish ministry in 1997 and moved back to Muskegon. Retirement offered new opportunities to share God's love, both in ministry together at Muskegon Central UMC and as representatives of the General Board of Global Ministries in West Michigan. The couple made five trips to Africa to teach and lead job creation programs with women. Lynn also organized work projects in Lithuania and Chile. He visited 55 countries before making his final trip home.
Other pastimes included reading World War II non-fiction and poetry and relaxing at the DeMoss cottage at Lake Louise Christian Community. After moving to Clark Retirement Community in 2015, Lynn preached as a member of the chaplaincy team of Grand Rapids First UMC. Playing cards (his slogan was, "No mercy!"), trips to the Soo Locks, and teaching and community involvement at Georgetown UMC all provided special joy.
Lynn was preceded in death by his parents, Lowell and Helen (nee McCarty), wife Lois (nee Likes), and aunts, Emily McCarty and Mabel Conrad (nee DeMoss).
He is survived and lovingly remembered by his wife Kay, son Jeffrey and wife Heidi (nee Diehl), daughter Jen and husband Dan VanderPloeg, grandsons Drew and David DeMoss, granddaughter Delaney VanderPloeg, sister Rachel Edwards, cousin Shirley Lanum (nee Veneman) and many beloved nieces and nephews."
(Obituary Courtesy of mLive)