Galerie Ezakwantu

African Art       Franschhoek South Africa       Tribal Art

 

 

Central and Southern African Tribal Art

 

 

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Masks / Masques

Neck Rests

Headdresses

 Spoons / Ladles 

Status Objects

Thrones / Stools

 

Tribal Weapons

Wooden Vessels

Figures

Contemporary

Hair Ornaments

Adornment

Miscellaneous

Beer -Wine Cups

 

Musical Instruments

 

Zulu Imbenge

 

Pipes - Snuff Bottles - Snuff Spoons

 

Dolls

 

Clay Pots

 

 

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African Musical Instruments

 

 

 

Ovimbundu Harp

 

Angola

 

Collected between 1885 and 1925 by Marion Webster

 

             

 


Marion Webster

 

 

Central Angola - 1900

 

Purchased from Mary A. Webster, a relation of Henry Ardell Webster, born September 21, 1858. Henry Webster married Marion Murchie in 1887. Both traveled to Africa under the employ of the American Board of Foreign Missions. Henry died of malaria at  Benguela during his first year in Africa.

 

 

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This object is between 80 and 120 years old.

 

 

 

   

 

Marion remained a missionary in Angola for over 40 years, living at Bailundo.

 

 

Webster Hall was built in the nearby town of Dondi, Webster Hall was built.
 

 

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An  indecipherable label begins with the word "Native".

 


 

Mary A. Webster, presently 92 years old, (2007) recalls that she was a grade school aged girl when her aunt Marion came home on furlough. She recalls that aunt Marion held talks and showed off African items to church members and other community groups during her stay.

 

Marion's letters from the mission are mentioned at this Harvard University Site

 

http://oasis.harvard.edu:10080/oasis/deliver/~hou01805

 

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african musical instrument african stringed instrument Ken Karner artefact vintage artifacts artifact antique artefacts

 

 

Chokwe Whistle circa 1900

 

Congo - DRC

 

Purchased from an English auction house.

 

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Whistles such as this were used by men while hunting. The carved face is that of Mwana Pwo,

who is often seen in related court art. Her coiffure indicates 19th century origin.

 

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Tsonga - Zulu Musical Flute Bow

 

South Africa

 

This example was collected during the 1940's by Anna Dekenah, who farmed near Tzaneen, South Africa.

 

To our knowledge, these items are no longer found in the field and are rarely found in collections.

 

 

 

 

The poker worked crosses on the glossy surface indicate this flute bow  to be of Portuguese Mozambique origin. The image on the right includes an old weathered tube the object fits inside of for protection, which explains why it is in such good condition...

 

 

The Tsonga - Shangaan peoples called these instruments "umqangala". Note the similar poker worked example (5) above.

 

 

 

Zulu boy playing an  umqangala. Circa 1930's

 

THE BANTU TRIBES OF SOUTH AFRICA - THE NGUNI - THE ZULU

 

The plate reads;

 

This instrument is called the umgangala. Note the absence of a resonator; the mouth cavity is used for that purpose, the end of the instrument being held in the mouth. Different sounds are produced by the fingering of the string by the right hand.

 

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Makonde Drum

 

Mozambique - Tanzania

 

 

This tall slender drum has a well used leather surface which retains it's great tone.

 

       

 

It has exciting aluminum (aluminum) repairs at the base. Even the nails are aluminum.

 

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Congo Rattle - Diviners Rattle - DRC

 

From an old Wickerwork Collection

 

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The wickerwork found on this tall, eloquent rattle displays an old red-brown patina. Within the sealed  basket shaped object are what should be dried seeds, which release a sound when shaken.

 

 

The object was most likely used by a diviner for divination.

 

 

The rattles base displays an old, well used, aluminum (aluminum) repair.

 

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Thumb Pianos / Lekembe - Mbira

 

Western Zambia - Angola - DRC - Botswana


Lekembe or Mbira are generic names for several African thumb pianos or lamellophones. Tongues are metal or bamboo. Often hornets wax is placed uner the tongue ends.

 

In South Africa thumb pianos are called kalinda or kalimba and sometimes sansa.
 

   

 

 This type of thumb piano is used in Western Congo, Western Zambia and much of Angola.  The people in the region call this the musical instrument a Lekembe or Casagi.  Note the added iron rattle beads at the base.

 

 

 

Another - from Botswana

 

 

 

 

This Mbira was field collected in May of 2004. It had been owned by a Masarwa traditional healer called a Ngaka or Phothego Mohune, in the Okavango Delta, Botswana. The Masarwa are a group of Bushman who reside around the swamps.

 

The images which follow depict the healer playing this very Mbira. His shoulder decorations and upper portion of the beaded headdress displayed, are made from the mane of an adult Zebra.

 

 

Click thumbnails to view a larger image.

 

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 The owners of thumb pianos are invariably men who enjoy the invitation to take up a tune.

 

 

Click the thumbnail above to download a video clip.

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Complements of...

 

 

Galerie Ezakwantu

World leaders in ascetically pleasing, authentic tribal art from Southern Africa.

 

 

 

Contact Galerie Ezakwantu for larger resolution images and the availability of items.

 

 

 

 

 

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Click a thumbnail to enter a page.

Masks / Masques

Neck Rests

Headdresses

 Spoons / Ladles 

Status Objects

Thrones / Stools

 

Tribal Weapons

Wooden Vessels

Figures

Contemporary

Hair Ornaments

Adornment

Miscellaneous

Beer -Wine Cups

 

Musical Instruments

 

Zulu Imbenge

 

Pipes - Snuff Bottles - Snuff Spoons

 

Dolls

 

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