A divination tool, known as ‘katatora’, carved from hard wood and dyed black. With a beautiful head above, with backward-sweeping hairstyle (typical for the style of the Luba-Hemba), as well as with a necklace of two pierced cowrie shells and large, white and blue glass beads (old type). The ‘body’ of the ‘katatora’ shows a central, rectangular hole, and the lower standing surface is rubbed smooth. On the top of the head, the ‘katatora’ has a small hole for ‘magic material’, which is supposed to provide power to the object.
Soothsaying with a ‘katatora’ functions as follows: this tool is viewed as an independent ‘magic person’ and belongs to a priest, soothsayer or healer (a ‘nganga’) of the Luba-Hemba. If someone from the community wishes to find out something from the priest and diviner (e.g., ‘my wife is ill, who has bewitched her’?), the ‘nganga’ then takes his ‘katatora’ and places it (with the head upwards) on a smooth surface made of wood or stone. The diviner and his ‘client’ sit opposite each other and each one places a finger in the hole of the ‘katatora’. Then the diviner lets his ‘katatora’ glide over the smooth lower surface, at the same time naming many known names. Until the ‘katatora’ stops moving at one of the names called out – that was the one. The present ‘katatora’ is therefore a very interesting object both from an artistic and cultural-historical point of view. With age-related colour scuffing. No significant damage, and with a very good, old shiny patina due to protracted use.
Height: 16 cm. First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Private collection of Jos Christiaens, Bruges, Belgium.