N-kisyan khanda or ndeemba mask
N-kisyan khanda or ndeemba mask
N-kisyan khanda or ndeemba mask
N-kisyan khanda or ndeemba mask

On view

African Art

N-kisyan khanda or ndeemba mask,

20th century, before 1975

Artist unrecorded
Yaka
y1990-90
The Yaka of southwest Democratic Republic of the Congo and northern Angola are known for a variety of masks associated with male initiation and circumcision rites. The newly initiated wore masks at a celebration marking the end of these rites, and they frequently toured the region with the masks to proclaim their new status. This example’s small oval face, with upturned nose, is nearly hidden by the surrounding fiber, which completely engulfs a hand grip carved beneath the chin.

Information

Title
N-kisyan khanda or ndeemba mask
Dates

20th century, before 1975

Maker
Artist unrecorded
Medium
Wood, kaolin, raffia, paint, cane, and cloth
Dimensions
overall: h. 58.5 cm (23 1/16 in.) excluding raffia: h. 53.5 cm (21 1/16 in.)
Credit Line
Gift of Perry E. H. Smith, Class of 1957
Object Number
y1990-90
Place Made

Africa, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Bandundu Province, Lufuna Sector

Culture
African, Yaka
Type
masks (costume), ceremonial objects
Materials
kaolin, raffia, wood, cloth, paint, cotton (textile), cane (plant material)
Techniques
braiding, carving, weaving, painting (coating)
Subject
faces, rites of passage, initiations, trees, rituals (events), geometric patterns, men, youth, social status

Purchased by Perry E.H. Smith (1936?-2019) in Zaire (present-day Democratic Republic of the Congo) between 1971 and circa 1975; donated to the Princeton University Art Museum, Princeton, NJ, 1990.

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The Museum regularly researches its objects and their collecting histories, updating its records to reflect new information. We also strive to catalogue works of art using language that is consistent with how people, subjects, artists, and cultures describe themselves. As this effort is ongoing, the Museum’s records may be incomplete or contain terms that are no longer acceptable. We welcome your feedback, questions, and additional information that you feel may be useful to us. Email us at collectionsinfo@princeton.edu.

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