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Source Description
Carved out of ivory or wood in a variety of shapes, Chokwe whistles often bear miniature, stylized renderings of masks. Cikunza, the "patron saint" of the boys' initiation into manhood, is depicted with a pointed extension imitating the horn of a road antelope, symbolizing the fertility spirit. Typically such whistles were used by men during the hunt to communicate with their co-hunters and to call their dogs. They were either worn attached to a string as a necklace or tied to a spear.
Scholar Source Context
Document identity
localId
94883
label
Whistle (kasengosengo)
core
obj
dtoType
object
pageCount
1
Source metadata
id
94883
contentType
object
title
Whistle (kasengosengo)
description
Carved out of ivory or wood in a variety of shapes, Chokwe whistles often bear miniature, stylized renderings of masks. Cikunza, the "patron saint" of the boys' initiation into manhood, is depicted with a pointed extension imitating the horn of a road antelope, symbolizing the fertility spirit. Typically such whistles were used by men during the hunt to communicate with their co-hunters and to call their dogs. They were either worn attached to a string as a necklace or tied to a spear.
date
late 1800s
rights
CC0
rightsUri
CC0
language
en
wikidata
Q60759326
genreSpecific
Musical Instrument
imageCount
1
source
import
dimensionsRaw
Overall: 7.3 x 3.2 cm (2 7/8 x 1 1/4 in.)
cul
Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola, Chokwe people
accession
1915.443
Source extras
tec
Probably hippopotamus ivory
tombstone
Whistle (kasengosengo), late 1800s. Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo or Angola, Chokwe people. Probably hippopotamus ivory; overall: 7.3 x 3.2 cm (2 7/8 x 1 1/4 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Educational Purchase Fund, 1915.443
collection
African Art
didYouKnow
This was the first sculptural work from Africa to enter the CMA's collection.
creditline
Educational Purchase Fund
updatedAt
2026-06-10 17:55:35.145000
sourceId
94883
dept
African Art
coll
African Art
med
Probably hippopotamus ivory
thumbnail_url
image_url
Single page context
seq
1
pageIndex
0
type
photo
mediaId
e4bc109739212af2