Songye Nkishi Power Fetish Figure Congo
Width: 8.0
Depth: 8.0
Description
This figure, originating from the Songye people, bears influences from various artistic styles. The Songye, residing along the Lualaba River in savanna territory, have a history of cultural exchange with neighboring groups like the Hemba, Kuba, Tetela, Luluwa, and Luba. Among the Songye, spiritual beliefs are pervasive, and figures like this one serve on family or village altars to commune with ancestors and nature spirits, accompanied by prayers and offerings. Termed as nkishi or mankishi, these power figures hold significance, though often dubbed 'fetishes' in Western collections, which misrepresents their cultural context. In the Congo region, sculptures like the Nkishi are integral to the practices of Nganga, spiritual leaders with divinatory abilities utilizing rituals and sculptures to heal, prevent malevolent forces, and interact with the spirit realm. This Nkishi, with its distinctive feature of a pronounced belly rather than an opening containing magical materials, serves as a conduit between the Nganga's ritualistic actions and spiritual entities, symbolizing the connection between the physical and spiritual worlds within Songye and other Bantu-speaking communities.
133611
Approximate Age: 20th Century
People: ["Songye"]
Country of Origin: Democractic Republic of the Congo
Condition
Overall Condition: Good. Most of our pieces have spent decades on at least two continents, and have been treasured by several owners.