Central Africa

Objects include prime examples of ritual figures and masks from the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Cameroon Grassfields, an impressive array of weapons, and contemporary photographs by Angèle Etoundi Essamba.

Unidentified Kuba maker
Ikula Ceremonial Knife
19th-20th century
180.27.25946
Unidentified Bamileke maker
Elephant Mask
late 19th-early 20th century
181.20.26274
Unidentified Bamileke maker
Elephant Mask
late 19th century
181.20.26275
Unidentified Kuba maker
Mukyeem (Mask of the King-as-Elephant)
19th-20th century
2008.89
Unidentified Fang or Kota maker
Bird-headed Ceremonial Knife (musele)
collected about 1892
2013.75.1
Unidentified Teke or Ngala maker
Executioner's Sword
19th century
39.64.6954
Unidentified Ngombe maker
Shield
late 19th century
39.64.6960
Unidentified Mangbetu maker
Knife (trumgash)
19th-20th century
40.15.12620
Unidentified Ngala maker
Executioner's Sword
late 19th-early 20th century
40.15.12622
Unidentified Lele maker
Sword
19th century
40.15.12625
Unidentified Ngbandi, Azande, or Bandi maker
Knife
19th-early 20th century
40.15.12626
Unidentified Bana maker
Woman's Armlet
19th-20th century
985.7.26431
Unidentified Kota-Obamba maker
Mbulu Ngulu, Reliquary Figure
19th century
986.60.26660
Unidentified Western Pende maker
Mbuya Initiation Mask
19th century
986.9.26650
Unidentified Ekpe Society maker, Banyang
Medicine Mat / Power Emblem
late 19th-20th century
987.18.26714
Unidentified Hemba maker
Janus Figure: Male and Female Standing Back to Back
early 20th century
990.53.27173
Unidentified Bwaka or Gobu maker
Throwing Knife
19th-20th century
991.48.29011
Unidentified Songe maker
Ceremonial Axe, Insignia of Rank
19th-20th centruy
991.48.29012
Unidentified Konda maker
Display Knife
19th-20th century
992.38.29079
Solongo style | Unidentified Kongo maker
Nkisi Nkondi (Power Figure)
19th century
996.22.30233
Unidentified Yaka maker
Power Figure
early 20th century
996.25.30315
Unidentified Pende maker
Oracle Figure
first half of the 20th century
996.31.30328
Unidentified Kongo maker
Sword of Royal Authority (mebele a lulendo)
19th century or earlier
997.20.30355
Unidentified Hemba-Niembo maker
Memorial Figure of a Lineage Head
late 19th-early 20th century
998.13.30366
Unidentified Luba maker
Rattle with Female Figure
late 19th-early 20th century
998.59.30367
Unidentified African-Portuguese maker
Cross
19th century
999.3.30469
Angèle Etoundi Essamba, Cameroonian, born 1962
Esprit 2
1985
ph.2003.30.3
Unidentified Tsogo maker
Mbumba-bwiti, Half Figure for a Reliquary
early 20th century
s.967.122
Shankadi style | Unidentified Luba maker
Stool with Caryatid
late 19th-early 20th century
s.972.189
Unidentified Suku maker
Initiation Mask
19th century
s.972.8
Unidentified Songe maker
Kifwebe Bakashi, Female Mask of the Kifwebe Society
19th-20th century
s.976.258