Lot A25 - Yaka Diviner’s Slit Drum

Lot A25 - Yaka Diviner’s Slit Drum
Item number: A25

Yaka Diviner’s Slit Drum (Mukoku Ngoombu / Nkoko Ngombo)

Democratic Republic of the Congo
Wood
Height: 57 cm

Rare Yaka diviner’s slit drum, carved from a single block of wood with a hollowed resonating body and vertical slit opening. The elongated neck supports a sculptural finial featuring janus-style faces surmounted by an animal figure, a composition associated with divination practices among the Yaka.

Such drums were used by ritual specialists to communicate with the spirit world, the sound activating ancestral forces during consultation. The refined carving of the heads, incised coiffure patterns, and warm, aged patina give the piece strong sculptural presence.

The surface shows consistent wear and age-related marks, enhancing authenticity and character. A striking and uncommon example of Yaka ritual art, combining musical function with powerful symbolic imagery.