Zemanek-Münster

Dance club "ebongo"

D. R. Congo, Kuyu
not available anymore
Provenance
Bernard Dulon, Paris, France
Size
H: 43,5 cm
H: 17.1 inch

Description

light brown wood, polychrome paint, head with flat facial features and scarification marks, crowned by a coiffure arranged in several lobes, min. dam., minor missing part, slight traces of abrasion, on base;
used for the so-called “kébé-kébé” snake dance, which finished the initiation of young boys.The head sculptures were attached to staffs, which the dancers held high above their heads. Their bodies were completely concealed by long costumes and the heads abundantly decorated with feathers.


Comparing literature

Kerchache, Jacques, Paudrat, Jean-Louis u.a., Die Kunst des Schwarzen Afrika, Freiburg, Basel, Wien 1988, p. 579

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