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

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

African Art Museum

Pwoom Itok mask dancer. Muentshi, 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 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_ref28969

GUID

https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo73799a18b-da82-4083-bd7e-3aebf756ea50

Local Numbers

EENG-XIII-3, 19.

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, 19." 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
Dance
Masks

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 01881

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_ref28969
Large EAD
https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/xo73799a18b-da82-4083-bd7e-3aebf756ea50
EEPA.1973-001
EEPA

Record ID

ebl-1536870822481-1536871013376-2

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