Lot A116 - Chokwe Hunting Whistle (Kasengosengo)

Chokwe Hunting Whistle (Kasengosengo)

Angola / Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Height: 15 cm

Carved wooden hunting whistle of the Chokwe people, featuring an elongated body surmounted by a stylized anthropomorphic head with calm, almond-shaped eyes and a composed expression. The figure displays a carefully carved headdress and a rounded body with two tubular side openings used to modify the sound. The dark, glossy patina reflects long handling and age.

Whistles of this type, known as kasengosengo, were used by hunters for communication in the bush. By producing high-pitched signals, they could call hunting dogs, signal companions, or coordinate movements during the hunt. The anthropomorphic carving also held symbolic meaning, often representing ancestors or protective spirits believed to guide and safeguard the hunter.