A non-profit educational foundation created for the purpose of preserving Native American artifacts, art, and culture.
A non-profit educational foundation created for the purpose of preserving Native American artifacts, art, and culture.

22 April 2013; Piggyback Mudhead (Koyemsi) Kachina


Not all Kachinas are serious; there is a group of Kachinas known as Sacred Clowns. Each Kachina has a purpose in the dances, and the clowns often act out in either eccentric, comical, or negative ways in between dances. Through these actions, the Sacred Clowns provide lessons on improper behavior or interweave social commentary into the performance.

The Koyemsi, or Mudhead, is one of the more well known of the Kachinas. Koyemsi appear in nearly every dance! While they are best known as one of the sacred clowns, they also serve as announcers of the dances, drummers, and often participate as dancers. The common term, mudhead, comes from the masks which are covered with mud.

This Kachina is unique in the fact that one is riding piggyback. Often seen as a father and son Koyemsi.

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