Divination Object (Kashekesheke)
African Art

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Divination Object (Kashekesheke)
Artwork Details
Artist/Maker
Luba Artist, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Date
early–mid twentieth century
Medium
Wood
Accession #
72.40.79
Dimensions
Please contact the Museum for more information.
Location
Currently Not on View
Description
During divination sessions, a diviner and client held this sculpture and inserted their fingers into its opening. As the sculpture was moved across the diviner’s woven mat, it produced the sound “shekesheke,” giving this divination tool its name, kashekesheke. Through this process problems were solved, memories reconstructed, and reasons for histories of misfortune revealed. Kashekesheke is one of the oldest of all Luba divination techniques.