Senufo
Côte d'Ivoire
Northern Africa and the Sahel
Female Caryatid Drum (Pinge)
INV-1114
Senufo
Côte d'Ivoire
Northern Africa and the Sahelc. 1930-c. 1950
Female Caryatid Drum (Pinge)
Senufo Côte d'Ivoire Northern Africa and the Sahel →senufoNorthern Africa and the SahelArts of Africaafrican Artmusical instrumentarts of Africa
Date
c. 1930-c. 1950
Medium
Wood, hide, and pigment
Dimensions
125.8 × 50.8 × 50.8 cm (49 1/2 × 20 × 20 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Robert J. Hall, Herbert R. Molner Discretionary, Curator's Discretionary, and African and Amerindian Art Purchase funds; Arnold Crane, Mrs. Leonard Florsheim, O. Renard Goltra, Holly and David Ross, Departmental Acquisitions, Ada Turnbull Hertle, and Marian and Samuel Klasstorner endowments; through prior gifts of various donors
This drum representing a woman of rank balancing a load on her head celebrates women’s prominence in Senufo society, where they act as family founders and spiritual mediators and guardians. It is embellished with designs that allude to the knowledge and power of diviners. This particular drum may have been played by a woman during commemorative funerals for members of the influential all-female associations known as Sandogo and Tyekpa.
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