Details
ITEM #:
2771
ETHNICITY:
Yombe
ORIGIN:
Democratic Republic of Congo
MEDIUM:
Wood.
DIMENSIONS:
14.5″ Tall (36.8 cm)
CONDITION:
Very Good.
NOTE:
Custom Stand Included
PROVENANCE:
Jean Pierre Hallet Estate Collection – California, USA.
CATALOGUE NOTE:
The Yombe Slit Drum is a traditional instrument from the Democratic Republic of Congo. This handcrafted drum is made from a single piece of wood, with a slit cut into the center. The drum produces a deep, rich sound that is unique to the Yombe people. This instrument is perfect for those looking to experience the traditional sounds of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The Yombe Slit Drum is handcrafted by artisans in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Each drum is carefully crafted to ensure that it produces a deep and rich sound. The artisans use traditional techniques to create each drum, making sure that each one is unique and of the highest quality.
This intricately designed slit drum with female figure is adorned with a dignitary headdress and represents a mythical ancestor associated with the Yombe fertility cults. These sculptures, known as phemba, were crafted to honor motherhood and were particularly esteemed among the Kongo-Yombe subgroup. The Yombe community used these sculptures to pay tribute to the mythical mother of a dynasty and to engage in propitiatory rituals centered around the community’s symbolic fertility. The other side holds the male counterpart which is important in the creation of family lends to the fact that this small hand slit drum was likely utilized during their fertility ceremonial practices.
It exhibits signs of both usage and age.
