Dengese (Bonkese, Dekese, Ndengese, Ndenkese), Democratic Republic of the Congo

Notable’s (totshi’s) pipe. North of the Kuba kingdom (Democratic Republic of the Congo), across the Sankuru River, the 12,000 Dengese  people claim to be the original population of the area. Their king, known as the etoshi, reigns over local chiefs who are assisted by noble men. Powerful groups such as the blacksmith, hunting and witchcraft societies counterbalance the political power of the chiefs. Their artists have produced great statues that became part of museum collections. The statues have no lower extremities. The notables (totshi) belonged to an association that required enormous fees from its future members and an initiation that was performed in two stages. This smoking pipe produced as a prestige object, presents many features of the traditional Dengese statues.

Material:  wood

Size:  H. 14”, W. 4 ½”, D. 5”

Price:  $155 + $33 (S&H)          [#E7D9S686]