This image-filled book features outstanding works of Luba art from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Major themes addressed include the role of visual and performance arts in Luba traditional politics; the symbolism of the female image and why ‘the king is a woman’ for Luba; the instrumentality of royal insignia in politics, problem-solving, and healing; and the use of art objects in the creation and transmission of historical knowledge in both the Luba heartland and its peripheries. Case studies from the authors’ long research among Luba, Tabwa, and related peoples of Congo will illuminate the complex philosophical underpinnings of Luba through visual expression. AUTHORS: Mary Nooter Roberts is Deputy Director and Chief Curator of the Fowler Museum of Cultural History at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). She also served for a decade as Senior Curator at the Museum for African Art in New York City. Allen F. Roberts is Professor of World Arts and Cultures and Director of the African Studies Centre at UCLA. 63 colour, 23 b/w images