Mbejn

early 20th century

On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 681

With the ngkul (slit drum), the mbejn accompanies dances and is heard at funeral ceremonies. Carved triangles, half-oval ornamentation, and an openwork base are typical decoration.

Artwork Details

Object Information

Overview

Provenance

Title: Mbejn
Date: early 20th century
Geography: Gabon
Culture: Fang people
Medium: Wood, hide rattan
Dimensions: Height: 39 in. (991. cm)
Diameter: 9 13/16 in. (24.9 cm)
Classification: Membranophone-single-headed / cylindrical drum
Credit Line: Purchase, Frederick M. Lehman Bequest, 2008
Object Number: 2008.4
Curatorial Department: Musical Instruments

More Artwork

In the same gallery

In the same medium

From the same time and place

Nlô byeri (reliquary guardian head), Betsi-Fang artist, Wood, copper alloy, palm oil, Betsi-Fang peoples — Nlô byeri (reliquary guardian head)
Betsi-Fang artist
19th century

Taganing Drum, Wood, hide, rattan, Batak — Taganing Drum
Batak
20th century

Bala, Wood, gourd, hide, membrane, Malinke — Bala
Malinke
19th century

Reliquary, Kota artist, Wood, cane, pigment, raffia palm, leaves, copper alloy, resin, primate skull, spire shell, Kota peoples — Reliquary
Kota artist
19th–first half of 20th century

Drum, Rattan, wood, nail, hide, probably Poto people — Drum
probably Poto people
19th century

Research Resources

The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.

To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.

Feedback

We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please contact us using the form below. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.

Send feedback

Content Notice

The Metropolitan Museum of Art presents over 5,000 years of art from around the world, and our online collection reflects ongoing work conducted over the course of our more than 150-year history. You may encounter objects or images that may be inappropriate for some viewers or information that may be outdated.