Lulua Figure

The Lulua, also known as the Bena Lulua settled in the southern part of DRC after migrating there from western African during the 18th century. This migration was due to the Luba incursions from the east and the north. The Lulua is an umbrella term incorporating a large number of heterogeneous peoples populating the region to the south of the Kuba kingdom between the Kasai and Sankuru rivers. Living in small regional chiefdoms, they come together in times of crisis electing a single common leader for the people. The village chiefs’ role is to ensure judicial, political and social cohesion among the Lulua. The Lulua economy is agriculturally based, though they do also trade. Lulua sculpture is elegant and graceful, with complex scarification on the neck, abdomen, face and limbs, which recalls old Lulua customs, now long gone due to scarification use being banned in 1888. Most of the carved figures are commissioned for use in religious association concerned with issues of childbirth and human fertility. These maternity figures aided pregnant women, who were part of the Bwanga Bwa Chibola society, during pregnancy and after the birth of their child. When a woman loses children through miscarriage, stillbirth or postnatal death, witchcraft is suspected. An appeal is made to a diviner for advice, and the problem may be attributed to the ancestor spirit chibola or tshi- bola. After being initiated into the society, a woman may be given one or more figures depicting various aspects of motherhood. The scarification that adorns these figures alludes to more than just the tradition of scarification as body decoration. Concentric scarification enhancing the swelling navel is only for referring to the link between mother and child as well as referencing the close connection with ancestors and the importance of the continuity of generations. Beautifully formed, bulging eyes are a reference to the individuals ability to recognize the negative energy and the intent of bewitchers in time so as to avoid harm. With the aid of various rituals, the beauty of the carved figure, its precise scarification and superb coiffure is thought to attract the chibola ancestral spirit. The chibola would then be reborn into the next family infant, thus ensuring the child’s survival into adulthood. Lulua carvers are also very well known for their carved ancestor figures that carry weapons and shields, representing the ideal warrior known as Mukalenga Wa Nkashaama. These were often carved for chiefs to allude to their position and are fairly rare, part of the leopard chief, the highest ranking of the chiefs. The leopard chiefs are believed to have a spiritual connection with the leopard, and are able to draw from its power acting as the intermediary between the living and the dead.