Minneapolis Institute of Art

Comb

Chokwe artist

Date

20th century

Medium

Wood

Culture

Chokwe

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

The figure in this comb is a representation of the Chokwe founder, Chibinda Ilunga. He was a Luba hunter of royal descent, who married the queen of the neighboring Lunda, and together they established the Chokwe. Chibinda Ilunga is still regarded as a hero and role model, and his image appears frequently in their art, distinguished by his elaborate chief's headdress. He established the concept of sacred kingship among the Chokwe, identifying rulers as representatives of God and mediators between the world of the living and the ancestors and spirits. Representations of Chibinda Ilunga serve as reminders of the importance of history and honoring ancestors. Democratic Republic of the Congo, Africa

The authoritative record is held by Minneapolis Institute of Art. LinkedCulture surfaces this object and its connections; it does not alter institutional metadata.