Pwoom Itok mask dancer. Muentshi, Congo (Democratic Republic)

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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 National Geographic and traveled to Africa from January 19, 1972 to mid April 1972.

sova.eepa.1973-001_ref28968

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo708930f17-f0aa-4545-84a5-aafffe129a53

Local Numbers

EENG-XIII-3, 18.

General

Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.

Local Note

Typed index card reads, "E 3 Kba. Kuba. Zaire, Muentshi. Pwoom itok masked dancer. 2/1972. EE. neg.no. XIII-3, 18." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.

Place

Africa

Congo (Democratic Republic)

Topic

Clothing and dress -- Africa

Masquerades

Photographer

Elisofon, Eliot

Culture

Kuba (African people)

See more items in

Eliot Elisofon Field collection

Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Congo (Democratic Republic) / EENG / 1972

Extent

1 Negatives (photographic) (b&w, 35mm.)

Date

1972

Archival Repository

Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art

Identifier

EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 01880

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_ref28968

Large EAD

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo708930f17-f0aa-4545-84a5-aafffe129a53

EEPA.1973-001

EEPA

Record ID

ebl-1536870822481-1536871013376-1

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