Chokwe
Angola, Democratic Republic of the Congo and Zambia
Examples for reference purposes

The examples below are NOT in my
collection
Example above from the book:
Chokwe and their Bantu Neighbours
Other examples of Chokwe whistles from the FANTASTIC book
"CHOKWE! - Art and Initiation Among Chokwe and Related Peoples"
for visual reference.
Whistle in the form of a female ancestor
Chokwe. Angola
19th or early 20th century
Wood, beads, H. 5 in.
Collection of Roy and Sophia Sieber
This delicately carved whistle commemorates
a female ancestor. The antelope horn served
to insert powerful supernatural medicines that
activated the ancestral spirit on behalf of the
whistle's owner.
Whistle in the form of a female ancestor
Chokwe, Angola
19th or early 20th century Wood, H. 3 3/4 in.
Chang Trust Collection
Men commonly select female ancestral spirits
as their guardians because of the
extraordinary supernatural and regenerative
powers associated \vith women.The "voice" of
a female ancestor was once heard through
the sounds of this whistle.
Whistle in the form of a masked ancestral character
Chokwe, Angola 19th or early 20th century
Wood, H. 3 3/8 in.
Chang Trust Collection
The elongated facial plane, arched
headdress, and disc-shaped beard on this
whistle are features typical of Chihongo, the
masked ancestral character who promotes
strength and wealth. A string, once inserted
through the neck of the \vhistle, attached it to
a larger object or allowed it to be worn as a
necklace.
Whistle in the form of a masked ancestral character
Chokwe, Angola/Democratic Republic of Congo
19th or early 20th century
Wood, H. 3 7/8 in.
Collection of Dr. Georg and Martha Deutsch

This figurative whistle may be a representation of
Chihongo. The tip of an antelope horn, still
plugged into a cavity on the whistle's head, holds
powerful substances with supernatural attributes.
Whistle in the form of a masked ancestral character
Chokwe, Angola 19th or early 20th century
Wood, H. 4 1/2in.
Chang Trust Collection
This whistle represents Chikunza, the masked
ancestral spirit who promotes fertility and assists
in the hunt. When ritually activated for hunting,
an ancestral figure may "move in invisible ways"
to help a hunter overpower animals. The call of
the •whistle can lure animals into a supernatural
trap.
Whistle in the form of a masked ancestral character
Chokwe, Angola
19th or early 20th century
Wood, fibers, string, H. 5 in.
Collection of Corice and Arniand Arman

The Chikunza mask represented as part of this
whistle has the disc-shaped beard associated with
royal characters. A finery constructed miniature
basketry piece is still attached to the whistle.
Chokwe, Angola
19th or early 20th century
Wood, H. 6 in.
Collection of Corice and Armand Arman

The full figure of a royal ancestor has
been integrated into this whistle. The
sounds of whistles communicate encoded
messages, and are interpreted as the
voices of ancestors, which implies a
supernatural presence.
Figurative whistles
Chokwe, Angola
19th or early 20th century
Wood, beads. Height 4 in, 3 3/4 in
Collection of Dede and Oscar Feldman

The elaborate crowns represented on these whistles indicate royal stature. Chokwe and
related peoples carve whistles intended to represent male and female couples, in which case
the sounds of the whistles, which are interpreted as the voices of the ancestors, have distinct
"male" and "female" tones.
Arte Primitivo

Measures 7-3/8"H.  

Description: Fine, small, carved wood whistle in figural form, the slender body flared at the base, arms carved in relief on the
body and face with jutting chin plate, slit eyes and mouth and a crested headdress with incised geometrics. Dark stained
wood. Minor nicks on headdress, else intact and very nice.  
Provenance: Ex. private west coast collection.
Tschokwe Whistles
Instruments of Communication and Marks of Prestigee
By Dominique Remondino


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