Drum (Mbe) Plural, (Mimbe)
date: label: Accession Date
content: 6 Aug 1892
name: label: Collector
content: Rev. Adolphus C. Good
label: Donor Name
content: Rev. Adolphus C. Good
notes: label: Notes
content: From cards: "Illus, in Bull. 136, USNM, Pl. 27-[?], p.140 Photo on drum card 1. Donor's remarks: "The black is burned on. The red is the powder of red wood. The white is simply a decolorized clay. This drum is beaten with the open hands, only; usually standing on end but occasionally held between the knees. It is beaten in all their cances, often in connection with the skul ([?].8). The measure is peculiar and difficult to describe. Singing accompanies the drumming." Made of section of soft tree, hollowed with adze (no.11) & burned to desired size; is beaten with open hands only; usually standing on end, ocasionally held between the knees. Drum (mbe), ca. 1850-1900 Fang people; Gabon and Equatorial Guinea wood, hide, rattan, pigment 45 X 12 3/8 (114.3 X 31.4) NMNH 95155; Gift of the Reverend A. Good Fang people played drums such as this one during rites that renewed the power of sacred skulls and at the same time initiated young men into the family cult. In certain phases of this crucial family ritual, drummers were accompanied by a slit gong; xylophone, and whistles." "Drum (Mbe) of the Fans. Shell, hollowed from a log of wood; head, of skin, the hair removed in the center for beating. Edge turned back in loops through which a hoop is passed, driven down over the shell and held in place by wedges. Beaten with the hands only. Used in dances. Height, 45 1/4 inches GABOON RIVER, AFRICA. COLLECTED, 1892, BY A.C. GOOD."
label: Record Last Modified
content: 8 Jan 2021
label: Specimen Count
content: 1
place: label: Place
content: Gabon River, Gabon, Africa
topic: label: Topic
content: Ethnology
culture: label: Culture
content: Fang
setName: label: See more items in
content: Anthropology
dataSource: label: Data Source
content: NMNH - Anthropology Dept.
identifier: label: Accession Number
content: 025654
label: USNM Number
content: E95155-0
objectType: label: Object Type
content: Drum
physicalDescription: label: Height - Object
content: 115.6 cm
label: Diameter - Head
content: 29.84 cm
label: Diameter - Base
content: 32.38 cm