neck support - Luba - DR Congo

Luba neck rests: Royal support and symbol of power
Among the Luba of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, neck rests (mwadi or kashekesheke) are much more than utilitarian objects: they embody a political and spiritual dimension.
Carved from dense wood, often adorned with female figures or geometric motifs, these supports were used by dignitaries during audiences or ceremonies, underscoring their sacred status.
The feminine figure, common in their iconography, evokes the queen mother (Mwadi), the foundation of royal legitimacy in Luba cosmology. It symbolizes the transmission of wisdom and dynastic continuity. The neck rests, used as signs of power, remind us that authority rests on a balance between masculine strength and feminine principle.
These objects, both functional and symbolic, reveal a holistic conception of leadership, where art serves as a medium between earthly power and cosmic order.

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