SHANKADI MPUNGI HORN LUBA CONGO

Description

In traditional Luba art, horns, also called Oliphant’s, are unusual and are not well known, unlike many other traditional African art objects. All the experts do not agree on the exact name or the role of this type of horns but a consensus has been formed. They are therefore called Mpungi. It should be noted that these African objects also exist in the Suku and Spongey cultures. According to research, it seems that these horns or Oliphant’s were used as trumpets to announce the arrival of the chief. Some would have had even more important roles as insignia of royalty and prestige objects or even as instruments of magic power. Remarkably, given its stylistic characteristics, this piece can be identified as coming from the region of Shankadi,