Our dependence on writing has eroded our skill for memory. Can we revisit an ancient and indigenous mnemonic technique?
African art has come to LACMA as yet another of the museum's bold new initiatives. It is an honor to assist in launching a program and guiding the creation of a dedicated gallery for the arts of Africa in order to give African art a more permanent and prominent presence at the museum and in Southern California, beginning with the new exhibition Shaping Power: Luba Masterworks from the Royal Museum for Central Africa.
This Luba Lukasa Dream Oracle Memory Board is a rare and unique piece of African art. It is intricately crafted with various materials such as wood, beads, and shells. The Lukasa board was traditionally used by the Luba people of the Democratic Republic of Congo as a tool for remembering and passing down their history and cultural beliefs. The intricate designs on the board represent various important events and figures in Luba history. The beads and shells serve as mnemonic devices to help the user remember the details of each story. This Lukasa board is a beautiful and fascinating artifact that would make a great addition to any collection. The measurements are 17 inches by 8 inches.
The memory board encapsulates Luba history from the very beginning, and could be read only by expert "men of memory." All the elements of this board and…
