Divination tool – Wood – Katatora – Songye – DR Congo

Great stylistic Songye Katatora / Divination tool from DR Congo. Involved in rituals, the “soothsayers”, the mbuki, use special techniques named Katatora or Kashekesheke to solve social problems. During a ritual gathering, the client/questioner and the mbuki both held the figurine while asking questions. Essentially, this is a way to communicate with the ancestors. The sculpture used for that means is named kakishi. The ritual consists in a personal ritual in which the mbuki tries to discover the causes of stress, illness and misfortune through rituals, and to favour the well-being of the questioner. They both hold one side of the figurine while a question is asked, and a confirmation or a denial as response follows. Problems are clarified and lead to a solution.
Hard wood with a wonderful patina of wear in a brown nuanced colour.

Provenance: former private German collection