A diviner uses this instrument in order to determine the guilt of a person, generally applied to those believed to be witches. The diviner rubs a round, handled disk (now missing) across the smooth surface of the “belly” of the carved figure. If the disk sticks, the accused is believed to be guilty; if the disk slides easily, the accused is innocent. Craftsmen carve divining implements in various shapes; the crocodile and dog forms are most common. The male figure depicted here with Kuba scarification, is simply a human form. It does not represent either the accused or a deity.
Date:
Ca. 1900s
Cite As:
Rubbing Oracle (Itombwa) and Implement, Kuba. Circa 1900s.