If The Ancients Could Speak

Sources

• www.ezakwantu.com

• www.africafediration.net

• www.oldarts.info

Bwoom mask, Kuba Culture, from the Lulua Province, late 19th century. Bwoom is one of the three mythologys that the Kuba circle around, Bwooms identity depends on the different versions of the myth. he may represent the kings younger brother, a person of twa descent, or a commner. The Bwoom masquerade is often showed in conflict with the mask figure showing Woot which is another one of the myths that kuba circle.

Living In Ancient Kongo

My artifacts tell my visitors how it would be to live in the Kongo Kingdom because it shows what they believed in and what some tribes made a living, for example Salampasu Sword it shows that the tribe were cannibals and that is one way of making a living, the Ndimba spear was also used for hunting. Their Beliefs are shown in the masks, for example the Bwoom mask or The Yombe ngang mask which was used in rituals and to show different spirits that were coming the Bwoom mask was used for their mythology. All of this shows that the tribes in the Kongo all believed in basically the same thing but diiferent spirits and myths, so living their will be very different and dangerous depending on what tribe you went too but all in one it would be a very exciting experience.

This is a female Kifwebe mask, from the Songye culture, from the Tanganyika province. Also late 19 century the kifwebe mask is a genre shared by the Luba and Songye which shows the interaction of two societies, this mask represents either male or female beings. Both masks types are characterized by angular and thrusting forms, in both of the cases the entire face is covered with patterns of geometric grooves that are uniquely characteristic of both masks. The female masks, just like this one are shown by the predominant use of white clay and rounded form of the head crust.

Ndimba Spear

This the ndimba spear, this spear was made by the Ngbandi people for war, one of the tribes in the Kongo kingdom. Only men of high status and power can behold this spear dates back before 1900 it was found by the Democratic Republic of the Congo. This shows that this tribe were warriors

The Ngulu Knife

The very first europeans that traveled to the congo river were impressed by Ngombe cult weapons, the have mistaken the for Bangala or Ngala, people whom they had met along the river. The Ngombe people live deep in the forestand and made swords. This knife had transformed its self into a ceremonial dance knife because in the 1900 they forbid executions and cannibalism. it was rediscovered in Australia in the 90s the ngulu had become a powerful symbol.

The Ngombe Sword

This sword is called the Ngombe/ the poto sword because both tribes used it , it was a sign of distinction it was made of wood and copper it was a very important while making it because it was believed to have magical powers.

The Salampasu Sword

The Salampasu lived between the Kasai and Lula rivers in Kongo . the Salampasu creatd it for killing because they were cannibals so it was used for war.

This 19 century Kongo body mask was only worn by the Yombe ngang also known as the ritual expert. Its white color represents the spirits of deceased people also standing for justice, order, truth, invulnerability, and insight.

This mask is also from The Kongo although little is known of this mask, what we do know is that its the mask of Chief Phumbu from the late 19th century to early 20th century

MAP

If The Ancients Could Speak

Kongo Kingdom

Mikael Mongroo

Fall 2014

Introduction

The Kongo or Congo kingdom was discovered by Jose Fernandez in 1445, he was one of the European explores in central africa he was accompanied Diego Borges, Vincente Anne, Rebello de Araca, Francisco Baretto, and Dom Christovao da Gama. But many books of the history and civilization were written by Durante Lopez a Portuguese african exploer he went their in 1578. Their religion were anti-christian and changed when they were introduced to Christianity before 1491.