Luba Male Half Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Mr. and Mrs. Richard L. Lee, Ridgefield, acquired in Kolwezi in 1983

For two stylistically closely related Luba female figures see Petridis (2008: 46-49, cats. 23 and 26).  The vast majority of Luba power figures are female due to "the belief in Lubaland that only a woman's body is strong enough to contain a powerful spirit.  For this reason women often functioned as spirit.mes diums during divination sessions" (Petridis loc. cit.: 45). The present lot, with a large reservoir inside the figure's head filled with powerful substances, seems to be male as it features a beard along the jawline. However, the breasts and protruding abdomen could also suggest a hermaphrodite, an even more powerful blend of male and female gender.