Object Details
Photographer
Bracher, Maya
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 mask called Pwo, woman, or Mwana Pwo, young girl, is the symbolic pendant to the male mask, Cihongo, and evokes the female ancestress, propitious for the fertility of the tribe. Dressed with care and charm, the dancer moves with elegance in front of the audience and teaches the spectators grace and good manners. She holds a rattle or a fly-whisk in her hand (Bastin 1982: ill.28)." [Bastin M.-L., 1993: The Akishi Spirits of the Chokwe, Face of the spirit]. This photograph was taken when Maya Bracher accompanied Eliot Elisofon on assignment for Westinghouse Film and traveled to Africa from October 26, 1970 to end of March 1971.
sova.eepa.1973-001_ref28950
Local Numbers
EENG-IX-8, 25A.
General
Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
Local Note
Typed index card reads, "E 3 Ckw. Chokwe. Zaire, near Gungu. Mask repr. female (Mwana Pwo); traveling entertainers in Pende area. 12/1970. Maya Bracher. neg.no. IX-8, 25A." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.
Place
Africa
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Topic
Masquerades
Masks
Clothing and dress -- Africa
Headdresses -- headgear -- Africa
Dance
Musical instruments
Ceremonial objects
Photographer
Bracher, Maya
Culture
Chokwe (African people)
See more items in
Eliot Elisofon Field collection
Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Congo (Democratic Republic) / EENG / 1970
Extent
1 Negatives (photographic) (b&w, 35mm.)
Date
1970
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 01862
Type
Archival materials
Negatives (photographic)
Black-and-white negatives
Negatives
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
Black-and-white negatives
Negatives
Collection Restrictions
Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
EEPA.1973-001_ref28950
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7717fb840-6283-4577-abee-67c307d764f9
EEPA.1973-001
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536870822481-1536871012956-3