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. In the greater Congo region, sculptures like these, known as Nkishi, hold significance in the practices of local priests or diviners called Nganga. These spiritually adept individuals use rituals, secret formulas, and sculptures like the Nkishi for healing, preventing malevolent forces, divination, and connecting with the spirit world. 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.