Staff of office "kibango" · D. R. Congo, Luba · ID: 3048493
Pierre Dartevelle, Brussels, Belgium
Description
wood, metal, pigments, base
Staffs of office, “kibango”, are prestigious objects of great power that belong to the royal insignia.
Shapes, figural accessories and carved patterns provide information about the history of the respective owner and the lineage, which is why each “kibango” is unique. In a way, the staffs are carved narratives that can be read like texts and serve as a memory aid for their owner. However, only the owner himself or the magic priest who once consecrated the staff is able to do this.
Additionally charged with medicines and metals by ritual specialists, the powerful staffs are also said to have healing and protective powers.
The object Staff of office “kibango” with the object ID 3048493 was last part of the auction 97th Auction at November 6, 2021 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house and had the lot number 323.
Here you will find more objects and interesting facts about African art.
Comparing literature
Roberts, Mary Nooter, Memory, New York 1996, p. 162 ff.