Details

Title

Divination Object (Kashekesheke)

Artist/Maker

Luba Artist, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Date

early–mid twentieth century

Medium

Wood

Dimensions

5 1/4 x 2 1/4 x 2 7/8 inches

Credit

Fred and Rita Richman Collection

Accession #

72.40.79

On View

Currently not on view

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.

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