During the first half of the eighteenth century, the Kuba King Mishé miShyááng máMbúl was celebrated throughout his kingdom for his great leadership. In 1710, he commissioned a portrait statue called a “ndop” to be made of him. The figure was sitting cross-legged on a base with a peace knife in his hand. The Kuba lived in the Democratic Republic of Congo between the Kasai and Sankuru Rivers. The Kuba were known for their unique art. They were specifically famous for their woodcarvers, blacksmiths, and weavers who worked for the king or nvim. Ndop sculptures were figurative sculptures that depicted the kings of the Kuba kingdom.
They were meant to commemorate and reflect the king’s “best state.” The king’s “best state” does not actually refer to his physical form but his spiritual state after passing away. Their spirit was demonstrated through small details of the artwork. In this case, the peace sword was meant to represent King Mishé miShyááng máMbúl’s calm yet powerful spirit. His head was also heavily exaggerated to reflect his intelligence, wisdom, and authority possibly. On the other hand, his body was relatively small, showing how he prioritized academic knowledge over physical strength. Each ndop statue had the same neutral facial expression, emphasizing the value of composure in the Kuba society.
Today, there are only six known ndop portraits, with the one of King Mishé miShyááng máMbúl being the most famous. While this sculpture was linked to King Mishé miShyááng máMbúl, it was also connected to King Mbó Mbóosh and King Kot áNée. It was bought by the Brooklyn Museum in 1961 and has sat there ever since.
With King Mishé miShyááng máMbúl’s commission of the statue, he commemorated his reign and solidified his accomplishments. Ndop sculptures reflect the artistic and cultural significance of African history.
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