Songye Nkishi Power Figure Congo

This well-carved Songye standing figure depicts a man with hands on a prominent belly, showcasing classic Songye cubist features with strong lines and distinct facial proportions. Carved from a single dense wood block, the figure exhibits the characteristic jutting chin, geometric nose, and sculpturally prominent eyes typical of Songye art.

The Songye Nkishi power fetish figure originates from the Lualaba River in the savanna territory. Figures like this are usually placed on family or village altars to commune with ancestors and nature spirits alongside prayers, other animal spirits, and offerings. Sculptures like the Nkishi are integral to the practices of Nganga, spiritual leaders with divinatory abilities who utilized rituals and sculptures to heal, for protection, and interact with the spiritual realm. Most Nkishi power figures contain magical materials on their pronounced bellies and serve as a conduit between the Nganga's ritualistic actions and the spiritual entities that accompany them.

For the Songye and other Bantu language speakers, figures like this serve as a nexus between the diviner's rituals and spiritual presence, evident in the object's aged surface from extended use and accumulated elements.

Height (in): 31.5
Width (in): 10.0
Depth (in): 7.5

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