Object Details
- Label Text
- This object, among the most rudimentary forms of body covering found in the Kuba region, is worn by boys and young men at a dance held on the last day of southern Kuba initiation rituals (buadi). This object is called a mukele in northern Kete communities or ngel nkaan in southern Bushoong communities. The designations mean "salt skirt." It is an extremely rare object to be found in any museum collection.
- Description
- Initiation skirt composed of a flat plaited fiber ring with a suspension cord in the center so that the skirt may be worn around the waist.
- Provenance
- Allen C. Davis, Alexandria, Virginia, acquired Kinshasa, 1977-1980 to 1999
- Content Statement
- As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.
- Image Requests
- High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/
- Data Source
- National Museum of African Art
- Maker
- Kuba artist
- Date
- Early-late 20th century
- Credit Line
- Gift of Allen Clayton Davis
- Medium
- Raffia
- Dimensions
- H x W x D: 43.5 x 42.5 x 2.8 cm (17 1/8 x 16 3/4 x 1 1/8 in.)
- Type
- Textile and Fiber Arts
