Democratic Republic of Congo
Luba

Wood
Mid 20th century
Height: 42 cm
Idiophone – Struck Directly – Wooden Bell with clapper

This well carved figural bell with elaborate body scarification comes from the Luba people who today live in the savannah in the southeast region of the Democratic of Congo along the Lualaba River. Ancestral statues and ritual bells are traditionally kept in huts and their only purpose is to protect the status of the relatives.

A favorite theme in Luba sculpture was a woman since, according to a Luba myth, vilie was the first woman spirit, founder of the clan and guarantor of fertility and the lineage. Women were cult guardians, and the royal wives played an important role: They were sent as emissaries to the chiefs of neighboring ethnicities.  Their responsibility was to contract profitable political alliances based on marriage.