Standing power figure "biteki" ·  D. R. Congo, Teke · ID: 3037103

Description

light brown wood, shiny brown patina, rectangular cavity with remains of magical substances, the face coated with striated scarification marks, the eyes inset with cowrie shells, rep. (breakages at both foot tips), cracks, traces of abrasion;
such protective and magical figures are used as a prophylaxis against sleeping sickness and other illnesses. In some examples the medicine package “bilongo” is missing. Such packages are often scraped out by the “nganga”, little by little, and sold as healing or protective dust.