Dating back to the 17th century, the Kuba Kingdom was a powerful and artistically vibrant civilization. Kuba rulers were great patrons of the arts, encouraging craftsmanship in sculpture, beadwork, and elaborate architecture. Even today, their artistic legacy continues to inspire generations.
Vessel: Head
Kuba titleholders showcased wealth and generosity by sharing palm wine, with ornately carved drinking vessels symbolizing refinement and power. This wooden cup blends human and animal forms, featuring symmetrical facial features and a small, closed mouth, reflecting the belief that thought should precede speech. The design highlights Kuba aesthetics, including a shaved hairline framing the forehead—seen as the seat of wisdom—and raised temple cicatrizes, a sign of cultural refinement. The large, curved horns evoke a ram, symbolizing dominance and ambition. In Kuba political life, those embodying both cultivation and strength could achieve high status.
Pipe
This ornately carved Kuba tobacco pipe was more than a smoking tool; it symbolized the status of its owner. The bowl is shaped like a head with exaggerated features, blending smooth surfaces with intricate incisions. The coiffure rises fluidly from an angular hairline, mirroring backward-curving side tresses. At its peak, a circular headdress features a geometric grid pattern, also found on the neck and back of the head. The iron-lined hole at the top held tobacco, while cicatrization-like incisions adorned the cheeks, temples, and above the eyebrows. The nose is narrow and straight, with flanking nostrils, while the mouth is a projecting rectangle with rounded edges.
The pipe’s wooden stem, carved separately and attached at an angle, curves gently upward to a fluted mouthpiece with a five-pointed metal star at its end. Coiled copper wire wraps around the stem, framing a faint carved motif. The exterior features interlaced bands resembling Kuba raffia textile patterns. The wood is a rich brown, with deeper carvings appearing darker.
Whistle
Kuba whistles were used to mark significant events, such as a king’s arrival, and to send messages or signals during hunts. In musical ensembles, each whistle plays at a designated moment to create a melody. These whistles are traditionally crafted with symbolic designs. While the carved images appear inverted when played, they may enhance the whistle’s prestige.
Kuba Cloth
Traditionally woven to use as a wraparound skirt during ritual festivals and performances, the main material used in the construction of the cloth is a fiber extracted from the raffia palm. The skirt was secured with a sash and usually worn over a plain red or cream embroidered skirt and is thought to be a unisex garment.
Bulup (dance drum)
The Bulup is a traditional dance drum used in cultural ceremonies and communal gatherings. It plays a vital role in rhythmic accompaniment, setting the pace for dancers and enhancing the energy of performances. Crafted with precision, the drum’s deep, resonant tones help unify participants and reinforce the spirit of celebration.
Kuba Mask
Crafted with intricate designs, bold geometric patterns, and rich embellishments such as beads, cowrie shells, and raffia, Kuba masks symbolize power, wisdom, and ancestral connections. Each mask serves a distinct role, from honoring past rulers to entertaining during community festivals, reflecting the Kuba people's deep artistic traditions and hierarchical society.
Prestige Cap
Each hat, cap, and crown in this collection was crafted and worn by members of the Kuba Kingdom. In many sub-Saharan African societies, the head is regarded as the most significant part of the body, leading to the use of intricate hairstyles and headdresses for self-expression and communication. These pieces showcase the Kuba’s rich tradition of ceremonial regalia, incorporating unique shapes, materials, colors, and motifs to signify status and the initiation of male titleholders into elite societies
Powder Box
According to the Kuba, the moon awakens fertility, a force that in a certain sense is also provided by the nyim (the king). There was a close bond between the Kuba king and the nocturnal star, expressed by rituals and taboos; The nyim had to make himself "invisible" with a new moon and could not leave his home. In addition, the cemetery where the presumed successors of the king lay was poetically called "the rest of the moon". The celestial body was given a place at the Kuba on an artistic and iconographic level. This is illustrated by the cosmetic pigment box, which takes the shape of a crescent moon. These boxes are carved from wood and often decorated with plant fibres