Skip to main content Skip to main navigation
heart-solid My Visit Donate
Home Smithsonian Institution IK development site for ODI
Press Enter to activate a submenu, down arrow to access the items and Escape to close the submenu.
    • Overview
    • Museums and Zoo
    • Entry and Guidelines
    • Museum Maps
    • Dine and Shop
    • Accessibility
    • Visiting with Kids
    • Group Visits
    • Overview
    • Exhibitions
    • Online Events
    • All Events
    • IMAX & Planetarium
    • Overview
    • Topics
    • Collections
    • Research Resources
    • Stories
    • Podcasts
    • Overview
    • For Caregivers
    • For Educators
    • For Students
    • For Academics
    • For Lifelong Learners
    • Overview
    • Become a Member
    • Renew Membership
    • Make a Gift
    • Volunteer
    • Overview
    • Our Organization
    • Our Leadership
    • Reports and Plans
    • Newsdesk
heart-solid My Visit Donate

Kuba Nyim (ruler) Kot a Mbweeky III in contemporary dress, Bungamba village, Congo (Democratic Republic)

African Art Museum

Kuba Nyim (ruler) Kot a Mbweeky III in contemporary dress, Bungamba village, Congo (Democratic Republic)
There are restrictions for re-using this image. For more information, visit the Smithsonian's Terms of Use page .
International media Interoperability Framework
IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
View manifest View in Mirador Viewer

Object Details

Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Collection Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Collection Citation

Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution

Scope and Contents

The photograph depicts Nyim Kot a Mbweeky III wearing abacost, which is the name for the male attire favored by Mobutu and promoted as part of the authenticity campaign, consisting of a short-sleeved suit worn without a tie. The word abacost is derived from the French a bas le costume, or "down with the suit." During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited the village of Bungamba (Bongamba, Bongaam) between Mweka and Luebo, in the Kuba region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.
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).
sova.eepa.1973-001_ref14202

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7b2b219aa-418e-4b77-b2a0-26c9fe64d6af

Local Numbers

C 3 KBA 15.3 EE 70

General

Title is provided by EEPA staff based on photographer's notes.

Local Note

A30
Frame value is 14.
Slide No. C 3 KBA 15.3 EE 70

Place

Africa
Congo (Democratic Republic)

Topic

Clothing and dress -- Africa
Portraits
Leaders
Headdresses -- headgear -- Africa

Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Culture

Kuba (African people)

See more items in

Eliot Elisofon Field collection
Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Congo (Democratic Republic) / EECL / Bungamba Village, Congo (Democratic Republic)

Extent

1 Slides (photographs) (col.)

Date

1970

Archival Repository

Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Identifier

EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EECL 2226

Type

Archival materials
Slides (photographs)
Color slides

Collection Rights

Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. Where noted, some images remain under the copyright of Life/Shutterstock. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.

Genre/Form

Color slides

Collection Restrictions

Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
EEPA.1973-001_ref14202
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7b2b219aa-418e-4b77-b2a0-26c9fe64d6af
EEPA.1973-001
EEPA

Record ID

ebl-1536955032661-1536955037616-2

Showing 1 result(s)

Eliot Elisofon Field collection

arrow-up Back to top
Home
  • Facebook facebook
  • Instagram instagram
  • LinkedIn linkedin
  • YouTube youtube

  • Contact Us
  • Get Involved
  • Shop Online
  • Job Opportunities
  • Equal Opportunity
  • Inspector General
  • Records Requests
  • Accessibility
  • Host Your Event
  • Press Room
  • Privacy
  • Terms of Use