Object Notes

Among the Kuba peoples, as among most traditional African societies, the scale and duration of a funeral—from short and simple to days long and complex—is commensurate with the prominence of the deceased person during life.

The Egungun masquerade is a multimedia event that is held annually and takes place in the family compound and throughout the village or town.

Yu masks, which are supposed to have been invented in antiquity and are owned by the oldest families in northern Guro communities, are highly revered and the recipients of sacrificial offerings.

The Senufo used tall drums supported on four bent legs not only as musical instruments but also as a means of communication, much like a public address system. The rhythms played on drums provided a soundtrack for many activities in Senufo villages.

Though rare, female power figures assume the same pose as the male, with hands at either side of the belly, and both serve the same function: to provide protection, healing, or therapy for its owner. Here, the empowering consecrated substances are packed into the figure's belly and belt.

Standing male ancestor figures dating from the mid- to late 19th century are among the oldest extant sculptures from Nigeria. Called ekpu, the figures contain the spirit of departed ancestors who were petitioned for the well-being of the community.

The Sango peoples practiced a funerary tradition similar to that of their neighbors, the Kota.

Anthropomorphic figures of indeterminate gender, like this one, are power objects called yandas after the protective spirits that the Zande peoples believe guard their communities.

The Tsogo used half figures like this one as reliquary guardians and ritual objects. In the former context, they were placed in the reliquary; in the latter, they were placed on the floor of a temple during "dramatic nocturnal rituals."