Small power half figure "nkisi" · D. R. Congo, Songye · ID: 3038226
John Giltsoff, Girona, Spain
Mark Eglinton, New York, USA
Description
wood, brown patina, remains of black paint, kaolin, animal horn in the parting, cylindrical lower part of the body coated with animal skin, which is fixed by plant fibre cord, slightly dam., abrasion of paint, block-like 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.