Power Figure

Item number 3103/28 from the MOA: University of British Columbia.

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Description

Carved wooden figure standing upright on round pedestal. Top of head is flat. Two holes drilled through figure; one down through head and body, and one across head from ear to ear. Curved line carved from ear to ear over narrow eyes, T-shaped nose, and small open mouth. Ears formed from raised semi circle around small bump. Thick round neck meets narrow shoulders. Thin arms bent at elbow and held at chest. Fingers carved into hands. Nipples and belly button carved from chest and stomach. Short legs bent at knees with toes carved into feet. Shoulder blades and buttocks protrude from back with incised line running between the two.

History Of Use

A power figure (nkisi, plural minkisi) that is a reflection of the divine protection and medicine of the great god, Ne Kongo; who released holy medicines down from heaven to earth in an earthenware vessel. With the summoning from the spiritual world, the power figure is called nkisi nkondi. It is carved in the likeness of a human to highlight its function in human affairs. The figure can be used for activation of spiritual specialists, and to resolve verbal disputes.