Democratic Republic of Congo
Kusu

Wood
ca. Mid-20th century
Length: 16.9 inches
Aerophone – Lip Vibrated – Horn

A small African figural trumpet/horn in the form of male figure from Southeastern Congo. This Kusu figure has a protruding mouth and pronounced beard. Much like the Songye, the Kusu fetish figures are usually male with an elongated torso framed by set-apart arms and hands resting on their abdomen. To sound this Sub-Saharan wood-carved trumpet/horn, they buzz their lips in the rectangle-shaped hole below the figure, while holding the instrument horizontal.