Kuba elders and warriors performing during the state visit of the Nyim (ruler) Kot a Mbweeky III, Bungamba village, Congo (Democratic Republic)
Object Details
- Local Numbers
- EENG-I-34, 10A.
- General
- Title source: Index card based on photographer's notes.
- Local Note
- Typed index card reads, "G 3 Kba. Kuba. Zaire, Bungabo. Notables dressed for royal visit of Nyim Kot aMbweeky III. 4/22/1970. EE. neg.no. I-34, 10A." The card was written in 1977-79 by Archives staff using source provided by photographer.
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Collection Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Place
- Africa
- Congo (Democratic Republic)
- Topic
- Clothing and dress -- Africa
- Headdresses -- headgear -- Africa
- Weapons
- Regalia
- Leaders
- Photographer
- Elisofon, Eliot
- Culture
- Kuba (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.)
- Condition
- Negative damaged. Not for reproduction.
- Date
- 1970
- Archival Repository
- Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives, National Museum of African Art
- Identifier
- EEPA.1973-001, Item EEPA EENG 08622
- Type
- Archival materials
- Negatives (photographic)
- Black-and-white negatives
- Negatives
- 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
- Black-and-white negatives
- Negatives
- Scope and Contents
- The photograph depicts high-ranking Kuba notables wearing traditional costume, as well as symbolic adornements, for the state visit of the Nyim Kot a Mbweeky III. [Cornet J., 1982: Art Royal Kuba, Edizioni Sipiel Milano]. "The emphasis on titleholding and the competition for and the subsequent prestige that accrues to titleholders is a dominant aspect of Kuba culture (Vansina, 1978; Binkley, 1987). Kuba hats are important visual manifestations of Kuba ideas about ethnicity and leadership. Each tiled position has emblems, symbols, and praise names associated with it." [Darish P., Binkley D., 1995: Headdresses and Titleholding Among the Kuba, Crowning Achievements, UCLA Fowler Museum of Cultural History]. During his trip to Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited the village of Bungamba (Bongamba, Bongaam) between Mweka and Luebo, in the Kuba 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-1536870822481-1536871013300-4
- Metadata Usage
- CC0
Related Content
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.