Magical figure "mvunzi" ·  D. R. Congo, Holo · ID: 3035320

Description

wood, dark brown patina, several openings to hold magic material, cascade-like coiffure, originally dressed with a loincloth (light colour in the corresponding area), continuous crack on the right side of the body, rep. (breakage right foot tip), rep. (a small piece of wood reinserted between the breasts), socle;
“mvunzi” figures should protect humans against certain evil spirits. They usually belonged to the main fortune teller, who employs them in cases of sickness, for theft or for the hunt. In many cases, for example with theft, a “mvunzi” possesses not only a protective function, but also an offensive character by acting against the evil spirit and imposing on it an even greater evil.