Yaka Slit Drum

Yaka slit drum of typical form with a beautiful dark brown patina and signs of previous white kaolin colouring. Coffee bean shaped eyes, wide open nostrils and a small opening mouth. The former are all elements contributing to the almost caricatural expression of Yaka objects. The instrument shows usage around the resonance body, where it logically was held and played upon with a wooden stick. The slit drum is an instrument that finds its main use in complementing tribal ceremonies musically. Many of those are represented in human or animal form, with either the typical coiffe, or in this case topped by a tortoise. The object and its details have been carved from a single piece of wood.
 
Tribe:
Yaka, Democratic Republic of Congo
 
Period:
Mid 20th century
 
Provenance:
Belgian private collection
Maximilian Christiaens private collection, Brussels, Belgium
 
wood
height 41 cm
sold with custom made wooden stand