African Arts Gallery

This African sculpture was a tool for communication with the ancestors, used by the diviner during divination rituals. The Luba , like their neighbors, used this type of object related to divination kashekesheke named katatora and lubuko . According to François Neyt, the object was carved from a wood ( kibekwasa )with magical properties. During the interview, the ring was caught by the diviner and his client, who would slide it on a mat or headrest in response to the questions asked ( producing the sound "kashekesheke", "extraction of truth"). Generally considered feminine, the object is a symbol, for the Luba, of the spiritual power that a woman would have, although the carved motif here shows a face with feminine features doubled with a face of masculine character. Black satin patina. . Watch the video