Friction oracle: Croc-headed animal (Itombwa), Kuba peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo
30cm long x 6cm tall (to top of figure)
wood, plant fiber, pigment
mid 20th century


"Regarded as infallible divinatory instruments, friction oracles (itombwa) were used to mediate between diviners and omniscient nature spirits in order to determine the cause of illnesses and appropriate courses of treatment and to expose dishonesty. They performed this role in the guise of an animal form, favored by nature spirits, designed to register their insights in response to human manipulation." - Metropolitan Museum of Art