Black People in European Sculpture Project

89 (27/01/2022)

Bokani, a Pygmy Chief

A painted plaster bust of an adult male with his head turned to his left looking downwards. The sitter is depicted with closely cropped hair along with a moustache and beard. His earlobes are pierced.

Bust – Portrait

No base

Height: 36 cm

Width: 20 cm

Depth: 20.5 cm

Plaster

Paint / pigment

Casting

Polychromy

Monochrome – brown

On left of shoulder: 'W Goscombe John / 1905'

At base of neck on reverse: 'Bokani / a pygmy of the Ituri Forest / Central Africa / modelled from life'

Identifiable: specific individual

Main protagonist

Male

Adult

Noble

No clothes included (head)

None

None

Not relevant (head)

Passive

Neutral/emotionless

Looking sideways

Looking downwards

No location included/implied

Twentieth century (1900-1999)

1905

Recorded in inscription

Didactic / Propagandistic

Commemorative

Decorative

Unknown

S35

In 1905 "Chief" Bokani was one of six Congolese Pygmies who arrived in the United Kingdom at the behest of Colonel James Harrison. They spent 30 months on display treated as 'living specimens' and appeared at various venues throughout the country. During this time, they were viewed by millions of people and even met the British King and Queen. When not on display, the group stayed at Harrison's estate, Brandesburton Hall, in East Yorkshire. They returned home in 1908.

During "Chief" Bokani's time in the United Kingdom a portrait bust was created of him by Welsh sculptor, William Goscombe John. The original plaster cast for this work is part of the Phrenological Collection of the Anatomical Museum, University of Edinburgh.