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 a handle connected to the base of the neck and the middle of the back of the head. The handle is shaped like a person, with a torso, legs, and indications of facial features, but without arms. The face on the cup is wearing a serious expression, with a straight mouth and a downcast gaze. The eyes are large and oval-shaped, and the cheekbones are prominent. The arched shape of the clearly delineated hairline, with a point in the centre, mirrors the shape of the eyebrows. A cross-hatched pattern represents the texture of the hair. At the back of the head, above the handle, there is a cross shape made up of overlapping rectangles of squares. The tall rim which emerges from a hole in the top of the head is marked with horizontal lines and aids the function of the cup as a drinking vessel.