Tribal Art

Mangbetu Slot Drum (N° 17671)

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Ast-href-like percussion music instrument https://www.wikiwand.com/Mangbetu_ (people) - Mangbetu, this half-moon-shaped wooden idiophone (3 kg) monoxyle was fitted with a long slit that acts as a resonance opening. With handles at each end, one side is also encrusted with upholstery studs forming stripes and decorative patterns. Black patina, satin.
The Mangebetu Kingdom produced architectural works that impressed European visitors in the 19th century. Their furniture, weapons, adornments and statuary were imbued with a rare aesthetic quality. The slot drum is not only a musical instrument animating dance but also a vector of speech, since it serves to communicate messages: invitations to gatherings, various announcements, etc. In Central Africa, the ritualist, the only one authorized to use the instrument, also seeks to attract the attention of the spirits through the sound produced by the chopsticks struck on the slot.