Royal memorial figure "ndop"

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Description

wood,

Initially, these figures were identified with Shyaam aMbul aNgoong, the founder of the Kuba-Bushoong dynasty, who is credited with many Kuba cultural innovations.

Subsequent scholarship characterised the “ndop” as posthumously created commemorative figures representing various Kuba rulers “nyim”. Scholars agree that the tradition of the king’s “portrait statue” was begun in the late eighteenth century.

When the “nyim” died, the statue was brought to his deathbed so that the king could transfer his life force to it. His successor then had to go into seclusion with the statue in order to be filled with the king’s power.

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Comparing literature

Binkley, David A. & Patricia Darish, Kuba, Milan 2009, p. 120

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