Kuba Nyim (ruler) Kot a-Mbweeky III, in state dress with royal drum and royal basket, Mushenge, Congo (Democratic Republic)

The photograph depicts Nyim (ruler) Kot a-Mbweeky III wearing royal dress 'Bwaantshy'; royal headdress known as 'Ntshuum Aniym'; necklace 'Lashyaash' made of leopard teeth; sword 'Mbombaam'; lance 'Mbwoom Ambady'; drums of reign 'Pelambish'; basket 'Kweemishaam'l' and other items of royal adornement. [Cornet J., 1982: Art Royal Kuba, Edizioni Sipiel Milano]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.

The full name of the Kuba Nyim depicted on the photograph is Kwεt áMbwε'ky René (III): aka Køt áMbwε'ky. Most full names consist of three successive personal names: the king's own name, the name of his mother and the name of his mother's mother connected by particles meaning "of." Only this ruler has a Christian name. The aka names are often used. The names are taken from Vansina Jan, Geschiedenis van de Kuba, Tervuren 1963 (genealogy 270,- 71; kings # 17 and following p.319-28).

See Image no. EEPA EECL 2139 for best quality image of Kuba king in the series of photographs, EEPA EECL 2139 through EEPA EECL 2145.