Knowing your power: Luba spirituality and art
To know of one’s power, what does this mean in practice? Power can often seem like a foreign concept that is far from reach in a society which has constant consumption at its forefront. We see countless examples on a global scale of the consequences of being consumed by a desire to hoard power, which has exacerbated harm towards people and planet. They raise an important question, namely, how do we connect to power whilst not being consumed by hoarding it? When looking at African history, there are many examples that highlight the close connection to spirituality which fulfilled a form of checks and balance to prohibit the risk of being consumed by power. A great example of this can be seen within the heritage of the Luba people.
The Luba people hail from areas within present day Congo and Zambia. The importance of obtaining a sense of balance when in the process of connecting to one’s power was a key feature in Luba authority as noted by Anthropologist Mary Nooter Roberts “the source of royal authority resided in the fluid border zones between maleness and femaleness, life and death, this world and the other”. Some examples that draw attention to the balance and fluidity of power include:
Spirituality: The close association to the spirit world and physical world played a central role in Luba society due a strong belief that actions or intentions carried out in the physical world continue into the spiritual word. Therefore, the desire to ensure that harmful intentions do not become part of a person’s lineage would have affected the power structures by promoting good character, one example of this can be seen in the actions of the King in Luba Society, “spirits ensure that a king is abiding by royal prohibitions and exhibiting the most important qualities of dignity, which includes a good heart (muchima muyampe) and a spirit of generosity”. Spirits presided over all aspects of Luba daily life as a way of reminding people to be mindful of their actions. Examples of these include the Mwadi (the interlocker between a deceased king and the people), Nkambo Kayembo (the spirit presiding over trading) and Kilumba (the spirit presiding over Lake Boya).
Art: Art was a prominent feature within Luba society and was often used as a means of connecting to the spirit world as well as outlining the history and power structure within the Kingdom. Luba royal artifacts offer an insight to the balance of power, most of which are a depiction of the female figure due to the belief that ‘women constituted the covert side of sacred authority’. The balance of the male and female essence, as depicted in Luba artifacts, draws attention to a fluidity in the Luba power structure.
The importance placed on spirituality helps in understanding the power structure in the history of the Luba people, which offers inspiration that we can apply to our lives. Namely, that power should be treated as an entity that is centred on balance; to be powerful should not equate to the idea of hoarding power but instead facilitating opportunities to strengthen connects with self, each other and our natural surroundings.
Sources
Luba religion and magic in custom and belief (1961) – William Burton
Art from an African Kingdom: Luba Masterworks from Central Africa – Mary Lenihan
The King is a Woman: Shaping Power in Luba Royal Arts – Mary Nooter Roberts
Art and centralized power – Mary Nooter Roberts
Art and Oracle: African Art and Rituals of Divination – Alisa LaGamma and John Pemberton III