Antique Tribal African Art Yaka Suku Figural Wooden Diviner's Drum, Congo

1900 - 1920

Sold by Skippings Fine Arts

Description

An authentic n'koku ngoombu slit drum from the Yaka/Suku people (Congo, Zaire). Sculpted of hard wood, it has a wonderfully rich patina and a strong presence.

As for its original purpose: the Yaka typically turn to a ngoombu (diviner) when seeking identification of an illness or misfortune. It is the ngoombu's responsibility to identify the cause of the aliment and recommend a remedy, without prior knowledge of the client or his/her situation. A n'koku ngoombu slit drum (also called n-kookwa ngoombu in some sources; meaning 'diviner slit drum') is an object that forms part of the divination ensemble. While divination is in progress, the ngoombu taps the drum with a small gong attached to it. It is believed that the sounds made are used to call on spiritual powers and also represent words from the mouth of the diviner and in turn he must translate the sounds to reveal the cause of the misfortune inflicted upon the client (description courtesy of imo Dara).

Height: 38 cm without its custom base. Old tension cracks to bottom and and back.

Physical Dimensions

Height

38cm (14.96")

Width

8.5cm (3.35")

Depth

9cm (3.54")

Declaration

Skippings Fine Arts has dated this piece to the 1920s.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA727800

Dealers Notes

Nous parlons français, und wir sprechen auch Deutsch! Paintings may be viewed in Norwich and in Paris, as well as in London and Cambridge by appointment. Please contact us if you would like further details and images of an artwork.

Description

An authentic n'koku ngoombu slit drum from the Yaka/Suku people (Congo, Zaire). Sculpted of hard wood, it has a wonderfully rich patina and a strong presence.

“

As for its original purpose: the Yaka typically turn to a ngoombu (diviner) when seeking identification of an illness or misfortune.

Skippings Fine Arts

It is the ngoombu's responsibility to identify the cause of the aliment and recommend a remedy, without prior knowledge of the client or his/her situation. A n'koku ngoombu slit drum (also called n-kookwa ngoombu in some sources; meaning 'diviner slit drum') is an object that forms part of the divination ensemble. While divination is in progress, the ngoombu taps the drum with a small gong attached to it. It is believed that the sounds made are used to call on spiritual powers and also represent words from the mouth of the diviner and in turn he must translate the sounds to reveal the cause of the misfortune inflicted upon the client (description courtesy of imo Dara).

Height: 38 cm without its custom base. Old tension cracks to bottom and and back.