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 mask here is known as Pwoom Itok, Ishendemala, Ishyeenmaal or Shene Malula. One encounters this type of mask among various Kuba group, including the Bushoong and the Ngeende. It appears during the young men's initiation and also performs as a dance mask. Pwoom Itok incarnates an old wise man who is consulted by the other dancers." [Cornet J., 1993: Masks Among the Kuba Peoples, Face of the Spirits]. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from January 8, 1947 to end of June 1947.
sova.eepa.1973-001_ref28957
Local Numbers
Negative number 22923, R-6, 7.
General
Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
Local Note
Typed index card reads, "E 3 Kba. Kuba. Zaire, Mushenge. Masked dancer, Pwoom itok mask, repr. wise, tired old man. Identification from: Cornet, Joseph: Art from Zaire, New York. 1975. p.84. no 59. 1/20/1947. EE. neg.no. 22923, R-6, 7. The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.
Place
Africa
Congo (Democratic Republic)
Topic
Masquerades
Rites and ceremonies -- Africa
Photographer
Elisofon, Eliot
Culture
Kuba (African people)
See more items in
Eliot Elisofon Field collection
Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Congo (Democratic Republic) / EENG / 1947
Extent
1 Negatives (photographic) (b&w, 2 1/4 x 2 1/4inches.)
Date
1947
Archival Repository
Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
Identifier
EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 01869
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_ref28957
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo7cba5c1af-b270-46c2-8406-449d708edfe8
EEPA.1973-001
EEPA
Record ID
ebl-1536870822481-1536871012577-0