Ndungu

19th century
Not on view
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo ndungu is a wide spread term for this long slender drum. The drum is play in two ways: the player straddles the instrument to play the larger head and the narrow in rests in a stand or the drum may be carried over the heads of two bearers while the player stands facing the larger drum head.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Ndungu
  • Date: 19th century
  • Geography: Mayumba, Gabon
  • Culture: probably Mayombe peoples
  • Medium: Wood, hide, polychrome
  • Dimensions: L.: 248 cm.; Head diam.: 20.5 cm.; Small head diam.: 10.5 cm.
  • Classification: Membranophone-double-headed / conical drum
  • Credit Line: The Crosby Brown Collection of Musical Instruments, 1889
  • Object Number: 89.4.1468
  • Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

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