Small power figure "nkisi" ·  D. R. Congo, Songye · ID: 3036517

Description

wood, fabric, cord, brass tags, loincloth, vaulted belly with drilled hole and tubes of farbric filled with magical mass, opening in the head (for insertion of an animal horn) with remains of fabric and mass, the facial plane mostly stud with brass tags, slightly dam., cracks, base;
Songe “mankisi” can be generally divided into two basic categories depending on size. Large examples are the collective property of a village and serve community needs, wheras small figures are personal belongings of an individual or at the most a family. The literature speaks of community “mankisi” and personal “mankisi”. The latter were meant to preserve womens fertility, they also protected against sorcerers, guarded the home against lightning, or ensured good harvest. The majority of personal “mankisi” were discarded soon after their production, for once the desired effect was attained, the empowering substances lost their efficacy.