Luba Divination Object Kashekesheke or Katarora
Democratic Republic Congo
19th century
Height 5 1/4"
Provenance: Constance McCormick Fearing Santa Barbara, CA, before 1960
During divination sessions, a diviner and client held this sculpture and inserted their fingers into its opening. As the sculpture was moved across the diviner’s woven mat, it produced the sound “shekesheke,” giving this divination tool its name, kashekesheke. Through this process problems were solved, memories reconstructed, and reasons for histories of misfortune revealed. Kashekesheke is one of the oldest of all Luba divination techniques.
Democratic Republic Congo
19th century
Height 5 1/4"
Provenance: Constance McCormick Fearing Santa Barbara, CA, before 1960
During divination sessions, a diviner and client held this sculpture and inserted their fingers into its opening. As the sculpture was moved across the diviner’s woven mat, it produced the sound “shekesheke,” giving this divination tool its name, kashekesheke. Through this process problems were solved, memories reconstructed, and reasons for histories of misfortune revealed. Kashekesheke is one of the oldest of all Luba divination techniques.
Democratic Republic Congo
19th century
Height 5 1/4"
Provenance: Constance McCormick Fearing Santa Barbara, CA, before 1960
During divination sessions, a diviner and client held this sculpture and inserted their fingers into its opening. As the sculpture was moved across the diviner’s woven mat, it produced the sound “shekesheke,” giving this divination tool its name, kashekesheke. Through this process problems were solved, memories reconstructed, and reasons for histories of misfortune revealed. Kashekesheke is one of the oldest of all Luba divination techniques.