African Art History Exam1

Bilongo

Activating medicines within Nkisi

mpemba (kongo)

White kaolin clay; chalk; land of the dead

Ndoki

Someone who by occult means harms his or her neighbors. (Kindoki occult practice)

Uganga

Expert owner/operator of a Nkisi

Bakisi

A spirit personality controlling a particular activity or function

Nkondi (Mikondi) Nkisi Nkondi

A loosely defined class of minkisi whose functions include hunting Ndoki and other unknown wrongdoers. Often wooden figures stuck full of nails and other hardware. From Konda, they hunt at night.

Christianity in Congo 16th Century (Portuguese)

St. Anthony of Padua

Toni Malau (Symbol of political Power)

Nyombo Bwende (Symbolic portrait of deceased)

Pfemba (Kongo)

Master of Kasadi Pfemba

Muzidi (Beembe people)

Minkisi (Nganga Female Diviner) (Yombe)

Nkisi Mungundu

Nkisi Kozo

mbulu ngulu

The wood-and-metal reliquary guardian figures of the Kota of Gabon.

Mbulu Ngulu (Kota)

Nsek-bieri

Cylindrical Bark box that carried the remains of important ancestors to create a portable shrine

Bieri (Fang)

Northern Fang Style Full bodies

What is Masking?

Chibinda Ilunga

Illunda Regalia

Staff; Leader Horn; Hunter

Horns denote different levels of power

Beard denotes age and wisdom

Chokwe tend to have very large hands and feet displayed on figures

Illunda Regalia (Staves)

Ivory Hunting Whitsle

Kasanda

(Divining Device) (the little world that holds the objects)

Wicker Basket with small token pieces (Tupele) that help diviner divine. Shaken then divined from the layout of objects

ngombo ya cisuka

Wicker basket divining

Kalelwa & Chikunza

Chikunza

Kalelwa

Figure Left

Chikunza Info

conical shape, leader of the initiation, father of initiation, masks, masking, fertility, knowledge (Spiritual Leader)

Protects women during childbirth, protects hunters

Kalelwa Info

Crescent and two bows (Chief)

Masks can only be worn by men

Chihongo

Generally made from wood, can be made from wicker and resin

4 triangles around a central diamond (Chokwe, assoc. Sona)

Old man, sunken in eyes, sagging eyes, Filed Teeth

Filed teeth are a symbol of beauty, knowledge, respected person

Also represents wealth, Metal adornments or earrings

Used to go to other villages to collect taxes

Used today to represent old men in a comical fashion, in current times it is specifically used to be comical if made of wood

Wooden holes can be used to attach headdress or support mask

must be accompanied by Pwo

Pwo

No headdress, Rafia fiber hat, sunken eyes, filed teeth masked by a man with fake breasts

Pwo Image

Chihongo Image

Yaka Chief Kyambvu Kindazi

Mbala adze (Khaandu)

Worn as clothing, symbol of position and power

Chief comes into power when previous chief passes away

Kopa is given to the new chief (Yaka and Suku)

Can only be touched by the current chief

Presented to new chief alongside list of previous owners

Adze (Khaandu)

Yaka Diviner with Nkoku

Nkoku

Mukanda Structure

Figurines

Posed around the structure

Structure

Mukanda

Cooperation

Mutual Respect

Respect for authority

Chiefs and Ancestors

Gender Differences

Sexuality

Kakuungu (Yaka)

Kakuungu (Suku)

Kakuungu

Supposed to evoke a very old elder that is only concerned for themselves

Sickness mask

"Old Witch" Large and swollen

Painted white and red

Used to scare the initiates into behaving, can prevent sickness

Requires sacrifice of a goat, Worn by the head of a lineage

Can make you infertile or make you fertile

Owner elicits wealth through masks

Kibulu of chief Kombo Kiboto

Pumbu Mask (Eastern Pende)

Performing Pumbu

Represents the Chief

War-like creature

Comes out during extreme circumstances such as illness of chief or anger of ancestors, Famine or problem with weather

Surrounded by raffia

Men tie cords to pumbu to restrain him

Can demand tribute

Comes out of kibulu and must return, must kill before returning

Kipoko Mask (Eastern Pende)

Kipoko

Represents the Chief

Represents the benevolent side of the chief

Reminds chief and people of how the chief should behave

coiffure

Coiffure (Western Pende)

Point and braid hairstyles (Removable cap)

Mihango

Western Pende or Mbuun

Pumbu (Central Pende)

Gikhokho

Pim (Aesthetic Ideals)

Originality; Something new or novel

Bushek (Aesthetic Ideals)

Beauty and goodness are the same

Aesthetic Ideals of Pende

Both artistic qualities and a person's qualities should be the same: symmetry, balance, dignity, smoothness

Kuba (Bushoong) King

Kuba King (Nyim)

The king (Nyim)

Raised above ground, seated

Highly patterned wardrobe

Leopard skin, Eagle feathers, Cowrie shells,

Ndop

Sulpture, Portrait of king

Ndop (Attributes)

Raised, seated figure with patterning

Spiritual image of king

Calmness, Smoothness, Dignity of face

Cowrie shells carved in

Itoom (image)

Itoom

Friction Oracle used by a diviner

Wherever the friction implement would stop would divine information

Figure of animals

Tell my mother I won't come again. I'm a novice now.

Mushindu

Uninitiated

Initiation (Kuba)

Boys are given titles to act out during initiation

Screens (Plant fiber wall) represent different posts and titles that mimic society

Represents how posts are supporting society

Boys must gather materials for masks

Entrance is hidden and only initiates know where entrance is

Traps and obstacles are placed outside the entrance

Safe space for boys to be able to practice their arts

Prestige with being able to perform more masks and create more masks

Ngady amwaash Bwoom and Moshambwooy

Moshambwooy (Image)

Moshambwooy

Elder mask

Feathers, goat hair, Circular/Fan shaped

Crossed Cowrie belt

Represents Woot (royal ancestor of Kuba kingdom)

Woot was married to his sister (Ngady amwaash)

Horizontal lines that stream down eyes (Tears and sadness)

Beaded section that goes down her nose and over her mouth

Tears of the misfortune that befel her and her people due to the incestuous relationship

Ngady amwaash (Mask)

Bwoom (Mask)

Bwoom (Attributes)

(Prince of Woot and Ngady)

Extended forhead (Waterhead)

Cowrie shells over eyes

Extended jawline

Wooden Mask with metal applied

Ngady Amwaash (attributes)

Horizontal lines that stream down eyes (Tears and sadness)

Female Mask type with metal applied

Kibango (Attributes)

Scarification carved in, can have a patina

Female Figure atop a paddle structure

Kibango

Caryatid Stool (Attributes)

Seat for the king

(Female figure with weight bearing on them)

Kings spirit is reborn in a woman and this figure represents that woman

Very powerful, may be kept in other villages to protect the king from spiritual damage

The life of the king is in the hands of women that surround him

Kaposhi Hairstyle

Crossed hair in back of head

Kaposhi Hairstyle (Image)

Caryatid Stool (Image)

Master of the Cascade Coiffure (Mikada Hairdo)

Master of Cascade Coiffure (Attributes)

Headrest prodominantly expressed upon

Carved figure supporting

Headdress (waterfall headdress)

Sognye Nkishi

Lukwakongo (mask)

Kifwebe Mask (Eastern Sognye)

Tricolored is male

Kifwebe Mask (Attributes)

Bwadi wa _______

Concerned with keeping control in a village

Masks come out insets

3 types

2 male

Young and old

Tall crest is older male, small younger male

Black white and red is male

1 female

White female

Kifwebe Dance (Attributes)

Not animal human or purely spiritual Similar to concept of So'o

______ enters a state of transition (Transitional ngulugu)

Masks must be activated

Bwami Societies

Lutombo Iwa Kindi

Lutombo Iwa yanio

Ultimate goal to obtain busoga (Good is beautiful, beautiful is good)

Used objects as didactic objects to teach younger grades

Higher 2 levels of Bwami wear hats that have horns, and other animal pieces

Cannot be promoted unless life partner is promoted

Iginga (Katanda) (attributes)

Some type of anthropomorphic figure (usually small, meant to be carried in hands)

Object that sustains the teachings and precepts of bwami

Katanda is the flattened person (lazy person who does nothing in the community so everyone can step all over them)

Holes in figure represents laziness as an illness

Kasangala -judge rendering decision

Stacked faces

Animal figures

Human figures made out of ivory (Kindi reserved)

Heads with cowrie shells for eyes

Represent something of someone who has achieved Kindi

Only kindi wear hats

Iginga (Image)