Two Luba anthropomorphic divination implements

katotola, each of similar form, the body of square, openwork form and supporting the head, one janiform with a cap-like coiffure the other with a broad facial plane and a multi-tressed coiffure; the janiform implement with a blackened patina, the other with a deep brown patina.

Cf. Greub (1988: 95, figure 38) for a related implement in the collection of the Museum voor Volkenkunde, Rotterdam, collected before 1884.

When in use, the diviner and his client sit on a mat on the ground and each grasps the sides with their index finger and middle finger on the interior and their thumb on the exterior. 'The diviner then addresses himself to the spirits and asks them a number of questions. As long as the spirits remain silent and do not reply, the oracle performs a to-and-fro movement on the mat or on a neckrest. On the other hand if the spirit replies, the katotola executes different up-and-down movement, or inclines toward the ground' (Neyt in Greub, ibid.).