“Lulua carvers are also very well known for their carved ancestor figures that carry weapons and shields, representing the ideal warrior known as Mukalenga Wa Nkashaama.
These were often carved for chiefs to allude to their position and are fairly rare.
The leopard chief, the highest ranking of the chiefs, are believed to have a spiritual connection with the leopard, and are able to draw from its power acting as the intermediary between the living and the dead.”
