Standing male power figure "nkisi" ·  R. D. Congo, Songye · ID: 3033520

Description

wood, shiny reddish brown patina, remains of black paint, head with elongated chin, painted forehead scarifications and elaborate coiffure, min. dam., minor missing parts, slight traces of abrasion, on wooden base;
large-sized “nkisi” figures, belonging to a whole village community. They were created to promote fecundity and ferility or to insure peace in the village. Aside, there are the smaller “mankisi” (sing. “nkisi”), which are kept in the house and should protect its inhabitants. These small “mankisi” were even taken along when people left their homes.The determinating factor in their assessment is not visual but is rather dependent on the magical ingredients “bishimba” concealed in the abdominal cavity, the top of the head or in a horn set into the cranium. These hidden animal, vegetal and some mineral substances acquire potency and interact with the spirit realm when assembled according to a prescribed formula by the “nganga”. Symbolically they may be grouped in two categories: those that provide the agressive content capable of counteracting the source of malovelent action such as the claws of a leopard, the scales of a venomous snake or the feathers of a hawk. And those substances having the desired positive effect on the customer.

Littérature comparée

Neyt, Francois, Songye, Brüssel 2004, p. 264, ill. 235