African Tribal Art,Luba Stool from katanga region DRC,

Description

Title
African Tribal Art,Luba- stool Statue-from southeastern  DRC,
County of origin
Democratic Republic of Congo
People
Luba
Type of object
STOOL
Materials
Wood
Approx. size
18 cm -6.7 inches high
9 -cm 3.5wide.
Luba
TYPES OF ART
The iconographic representation of women in Luba sculpture is widespread and correlates to the important role of women in Luba society. The Luba are best known for their stools,
mboko
(divination bowls), beautifully carved bow stands, and
lukasa
(memory boards).
HISTORY
The relentless expansion of Luba empire can be traced as far back as 1500, when it emerged from the Upemba depression which is still the heartland of the Luba. Eastward expansion to Lake Tanganyika intensified under the leadership of Ilungu Sungu between 1780 and 1810. This was followed by north and southeast expansion until 1840 under Kumwimbe Ngombe and then to the northwest and northeast from 1840 to 1870 under Ilunga Kabale. The empire began to diminish after his death in 1870 as Arab slave traders and European invaders challenged notions of Luba supremacy in the region contributing to the decline of Luba power. The
lega
cy of the great empire is still recognizable in the region today, where local customs and art styles often reflect a strong Luba influence.
ECONOMY
During the height of its reign, the Luba empire operated on a complex system of tributes which acted to redistribute wealth throughout the region. The ruling class had a virtual monopoly on trade items such as salt, copper, and iron ore, which allowed them to continue their dominance. Most citizens of the empire relied on slash and burn farming for subsistence. This was supplemented with fishing and hunting. The importance of hunting was reinforced by social institutions, which celebrated the fortunes of good hunters.
POLITICAL SYSTEMS
The Luba empire was characterized by centralized authority vested in a
mulopwe
(sacred king). This king enforced his power through the control of subordinate regional leaders who normally inherited their status based on their positions within various patriclans. The
mulopwe’s
power was reinforced by a royal diviner who was responsible for formally initiating him into his royal position. Numerous institutions existed to counterbalance the absolute power of the king. The best known of these institutions is the Mbudye society, whose members are responsible for remembering the history of the kingdom and whose interpretations of history could often influence the actions of active rulers.
RELIGION
The primary religion was based on veneration of the ancestors and involved paying tribute to the spirits. The Luba royalty incorporated religious elements into the justification for their rule. Like the monarchies of western Europe, the position of the Luba king was seen as divinely inspired and directly correlated with the genesis myth for the people. As such, the investiture of the king’s power was represented in a complex coronation ritual involving religious confirmation from a diviner.
FACTS ABOUT Luba
LOCATION
COUNTRIES
Democratic Republic of the Congo
LANGUAGES
Ciluba (central Bantu)
POPULATION
1 million
NEIGHBORING PEOPLES
Chokwe
, Ndembu, Kaonde, Bemba,
Tabwa
,
Hemba
,
Songye
,
Lunda
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Please note I do combined shipping as follows:
15 GBP I reduce to 10 GBP
20 GBP I reduced to 14 GBP
25 GBP I reduce to 16 GBP
30 GBP   I reduce to 20 GBP
35 GBP I reduce to 25 GBP
40 GBP I reduce to 29 GBP
45 GBP I reduced to 30 GBP
50 GBP I reduce to 34 GBP
55 GBP I reduce to 37 GBP
60 GBP I reduce to 41 GBP
65 GBP I reduce to 43 GBP
70 GBP I  reduce to 46 GBP
75 GBP I reduce to  49 GBP
80  GBP I reduce to 55 GBP
I also look the combine weight and reduce further where possible
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In addition to offering combined shipping.  Please contact me if shipping to Europe as I can adjust the shipping to a lower cost