ART 112 Chapter Notes - Chapter 7: Nkondi, Kingdom Of Luba, Kalala Ilunga
Document Summary
Chapter 7: the art of the luba, the democratic. The luba kingdom of the democratic republic of congo was a very powerful and influential presence from the sixteenth to the early twentieth centuries in central africa. The art that we will see highlights the roles that objects played in granting the holders the authority of kingship and royal power. While the king was always a man, it was believed that women in luba culture hold the power and secrets of kingship. Many of the objects depict female figures testifying to the fact that women, as the givers of life hold the knowledge and also rights to royal authority, and grant legitimacy to those in power. In addition, history in luba culture is not chronological and static as westerners learn it. Rather, it is an oral narrative which reinforces the foundations upon which luba kingship is established in conjunction with how this rule should be applied in contemporary, current situations.
