Two dance clubs "ebongo" · D. R. Congo, Kuyu · ID: 3043492
Description
wood, polychrome paint, rich ornamental decor, slightly dam., minor missing parts (partly insect caused), cracks, both mounted on pedestal.
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. After the dance, the clubs were plugged into wooden figures, which were decorated likewise.
The object Two dance clubs “ebongo” with the object ID 3043492 was last part of the auction 88th Tribal Art Auction at March 10, 2018 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 415.
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Comparing literature
Kerchache, Jacques & Jean-Louis Paudrat u.a., Die Kunst des Schwarzen Afrika, Freiburg, Basel, Wien 1988, p. 579
Publications
AHDRC: 0150625