
Sceptre (Kongo culture/Acquired from the Yombe) - EO.0.0.43708
1st quarter of the 19th century. Elephant ivory. RD Congo. Registered in 1947. Collected by J. Seha (1930s).
This type of sceptre was supplied with a magical charge. Its traces are still clearly visible on this specimen. The seated figure represents the chief. Between his teeth, he holds the ritual root munkwiza, which has supernatural properties. At his feet is a high-ranking woman who has been strangled and whose neck has been broken. This is probably a reference to stories in which the ruler must prove his superhuman nature by having one of his close family members executed.