Janus dog nail-studded power figure "nkisi nkonde"
Alain Guisson, Brussels, Belgium
Description
wood, dark brown, thick encrusted patina, the back and the head pierced with nails and bits of iron, clay-like material, fabric and padlock inbetween, iron ring, slightly dam. (ears), one leg provided with fabric bandage, one leg missing, one leg rep. (metal clamp, replacement piece), on plate;
as a means to empower and honour a wooden figure and the spirit it depicts, pieces of iron are driven into its body. Iron was “magical”, noble, rare and expensive and it conveyed a strong message to hammer a piece of iron into a wooden figure. It is evident that these iron implements were driven in one by one over a long period of time. Regular libations of clay, tukula, ochre, pembe, kola nut expectorations, blood etc. further decorate its surface so as to render it even more mysterious and menacing.
These figures were used by ritual specialists to fight malevolent forces, who metaphorically harnessed the dog’s keen senses and ability to see things beyond the vision of humans. The purpose of this figures was to protect one’s house or village, and seek out and identify witches, those who would use supernatural means to achieve their nefarious ends.