African Arts Gallery

Chokwe Drum (N° 22281)

Among the royal musical instruments of the Tschokwe, this ceremonial drum is carved with figures and faces carved in low and high relief embellished with geometric decorative motifs. In the chiefdoms, an officer announced each solemn event by means of the drum. According to legend, the membrane of the instrument once concealed a second skin: that of a sacrificial victim.

Matt patina, abrasions.
Peacefully settled in eastern Angola until the 16th century, the Chokwé were then subjected to the Lunda empire from which they inherited a new hierarchical system and the sacredness of power. The Chokwé did not have centralized power but large chiefdoms. They were the ones who attracted artists wishing to put their know-how at the exclusive service of the court. The artists created so many varied pieces and of such quality that the Lunda court only employed them. African Chokwe pwo masks, among the many akishi or "akixi" masks (sing: mukishi, indicating power) of Chokwe tribal art , are exclusively female representations which were accompanied by accessories and finery. They were, however, worn by high-ranking men.