Producer unknown to us
Ritual drum
Africa, D. R. of the Congo/ Republic of Congo/ Angola, Loango, Vili
End of 19th century / Begin of 20th century
Wood, carved
Collector unknown to us
Transferred to the museum from the collection of the Natural History Museum in Stralsund in 1965
MAf 32136
This drum was probably used in ritual acts of the Vili in the 20th century. Its lower part is shaped like a shrine, and a snake winds down its sides. The shrine rests on the back of an elephant. Of the original four figures, only one remains today. The figures on the drum, according to previous findings, refer to the creation myth of the Vili community. Only the most senior people were allowed to use drums like this one within the community.
The ritual drum entered the museum's collection in 1965 through a transfer of ownership from the Natural History Museum in Stralsund. It, therefore, represents a large number of objects that came to the German Empire during the colonial period but only became part of the museum collection during the GDR era. Because of this, the museum still does not know anything about the exact circumstances of how the object was acquired or how it was used.
Stefanie Bach