MUSAMBO (DIVINER’S RATTLE)
[1,2,5,6,8,9]: MUSAMBO (DIVINER’S RATTLE)
[3]: A Chokwe diviner in the DRC 🇨🇩 uses a rattle to divinate [click to see video]
[4]: Other implements used in divination
[7]: A different yet similar musambo showing a sleek handle wrapped in a continuous metal strip
[10]: A broken single-basket rattle with its interior construction on displayFrom: Chokwe culture, *possibly* Angola 🇦🇴 or *possibly* Democratic Republic of the Congo 🇨🇩Source [1,2,5-10]: @brooklynmuseum
Source [3]: “Chokwe divination at Kajiji, Democratic Republic of the Congo, ca. 1950” by UI Art Museum (UIMA) on YouTube
Source [4]: “The Bright Continent - African Art History” by Kathy Curnow (@kathycurnow), Chapter 3.6: Art and Divination. Viewed on @libretexts Humanities
Source notes [1,2,5,6,8,9]: “Double basket rattle. A rattan shaft which forms the central handle is covered by rattan weaving. The rattan weaving forms two cylindrical spheres at either end of the handle. The spheres contain seedpods. Two pieces of rattan fiber string are tied around the handle”
Source notes [4]: “Chokwe divination container and contents, Angola, 19th century. Musée du Quai Branly”
Source notes [7]: “Handle wrapped with metal (brass?) strips”
Observations: transforming material for both utility and form (woven reed) material intelligence, material awareness, ergonomics, formal balance.