Object Details
- Local Numbers
- E 3 PND 6.1 EE 70
- General
- Title is provided by EEPA staff based on photographer's notes.
- Local Note
- 82
- Frame value is 4.
- Slide No. E 3 PND 6.1 EE 70
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Collection Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Place
- Africa
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Topic
- Masquerades
- Masks
- Clothing and dress -- Africa
- Rites and ceremonies -- Africa
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Culture
- Pende (African people)
- See more items in
- Eliot Elisofon Field collection
- Eliot Elisofon Field collection / Congo (Democratic Republic) / EECL / Gungu, 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 4216
- Type
- Archival materials
- Slides (photographs)
- Color slides
- Collection Citation
- Eliot Elisofon Field Collection, EEPA 1973-001, Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution
- Collection Rights
- Permission to reproduce images from the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives must be obtained in advance. The collection is subject to all copyright laws.
- Genre/Form
- Color slides
- Scope and Contents
- "Although the Minganji face masks make an appearance at a wide variety of occasions (such as the investiture ritual of a local chief, or the construction of a new chief's residence), their primary role is as guardian of the initiation encampement. The Gitenga mask is described as the grandfather or the chief of the Miganji. It serves as a representation of the sun, a symbol of life and regeneration. The Gitenga mask thus stands in diametrical opposition to the other Minganji characters, which embody death, uncertainty, and darkness." [Petridis C., 1993: Pende Masks styles. Face of the Spirits]. During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited Gungu and its surroundings in Pende people's region. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon traveled to Africa from March 17, 1970 to July 17, 1970.
- Collection Restrictions
- Use of original records requires an appointment. Contact Archives staff for more details.
- Record ID
- ebl-1536955032661-1536955037930-4
