Name/Title
New Guinea Boar Slit DrumEntry/Object ID
MK_0262Description
Skillfully carved in the form of an elongated boar, adorned with intricate curvilinear designs and inlaid cowry shell eyes, this distinctive piece hails from New Guinea's Middle Sepik river region. In the Speik region, slit drums are one of the most important instruments: transcending its physical form, it is a conduit of communication, aptly described as its "voice".
Far more than a mere instrument, drums like this hold profound significance in the lives of the entire community. Their resonant tones carry across vast distances, announcing meetings, summoning individuals, issuing warnings, and establishing contact with neighboring villages. This intricate communication occurs through a complex interplay of rhythms and tones, skillfully beat out with a wooden stick by an initiated man. Through this orchestration, the drum becomes a central and indispensable aspect of community life, weaving a sonic tapestry that connects individuals, villages, and the cultural heartbeat of the Sepik region.
This treasured piece has been in the Mauna Kea's collection since 1965, when Laurance Rockefeller developed the hotel and has been recently restored. Guests may have previously seen this peice displayed on on the 5th and 7th floors of the hotel's main tower, as well as in the pool corridor of the beach wing.Made/Created
Place
Region
Middle Sepik RegionCountry
New GuineaContinent
OceaniaDimensions
Height
13 inLength
58-3/4 inLocation
Area
6th Floor AtriumFloor
6th FloorBuilding
Main TowerArea
5th Floor Mauka-South WingFloor
5th FloorBuilding
Main Tower* Untyped Location
Storage ShedFloor
7th FloorBuilding
Main TowerArea
Pool CorridorFloor
2nd FloorBuilding
Beach WingFloor
7th FloorBuilding
Main Tower