The Kuba Kingdom, also known as the Kingdom of the Bakuba, is a conglomerate of several smaller chiefdoms which was formed in the 17th century in the centre of what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It reached its peak during the 19th century, before the arrival of Europeans to the area (although it still exists today). It was founded in 1625 by Shyaam a-Mbul a Ngoong, who came from outside the area and united several principalities under his leadership. The government was controlled by a king (nyim) who attended a court council with representatives from all of the Kuba subgroups. As well as elected political offices, the kingdom also had a judicial system, taxation, a police force, and a military. It gained wealth through the adoption of advanced techniques from neighbouring peoples, as well as the cultivation of New World crops such as maize and tobacco. The wealth of the kingdom allowed for the development of a distinctive artistic tradition because of the desire of the elites to commission artworks that could display their power. Types of objects frequently seen include embroidered raffia textiles, headdresses, masks, ndop (sculptures representing Kuba kings), cosmetic boxes, and carved palm wine drinking cups. Palm wine, made from the sap of palm trees, is a popular beverage among the Kuba people. Highly decorated vessels became common as a way for elite individuals to compete with each other, as offering wine to friends in an impressive cup was a way of showing their wealth and status.

This cup takes the form of a human head, with the centre hollowed out in order to hold the liquid. The neck forms the base of the cup. The figure’s oval-shaped eyes are closed, and the face wears a peaceful expression. The deeply carved eyebrows meet in the centre above a narrow and delicate nose. Each cheek has a carved circle in the centre. A sharply defined high hairline delineates an area of pattern representing the texture of the hair, formed of small diagonal lines. This same pattern is used in a small stripe next to each ear. A circular rim emerges from the top of the head to allow for easy drinking. At the back, this cup has a handle; it is connected at the base of the hairline and at the top of the neck. It has a broadly rectangular shape and is decorated with four circles and another human head. This face is longer, but shares the same peaceful expression with closed eyes. The hair is patterned with carved rectangles, and there are lines on each cheek which could represent scarification. This is a beautiful example of an object that held great importance within the culture of the Kuba Kingdom.