A ‘Nkisi’ protective power protective figure of the Songye, in southeastern Congo. Among the Songye, typical sculptures such as the present one used to play a major role in the healing the sick, the administration of justice, and in the case of ‘white’ and ‘black’ magic.
Smaller ‘Nkisi’ (such as the present figure) were carved according to more personal, individual patterns, whilst single ‘Nkisi’ of larger size served as protective or guardian figures for the whole village community.
Such ‘Nkisi’ power figures were ‘loaded with magical material’ by a ‘Nganga’ (soothsayer, or priest). These substances could be inserted into a horn atop the head, into a recess in the abdomen or they could be hung as an attribute, providing the ‘Nkisi’ with its ‘magical power’. The present ‘Nkisi power figure’ constitutes a rare hermaphrodite, ‘androgynous’ type (female and male). Carved from light-coloured hard wood and dyed black and brown. The horn on the head is carved out from the same piece of wood (whereas an inserted antelope horn would be customary). The head is manufactured in typical style with a knop coiffure, large bulging eyes, a flat nose, a wide ‘grinning’ mouth with two rows of teeth, and raised scarification marks on the lower jaw near the ears. The nose, cheeks and chin of the present ‘Nkisi’ are covered with brass sheet by means of original brass nails. A similar brass plate also seals the recess for ‘magic material’ located in the protruding abdomen, sustained with both hands. The ‘Nkisi’ stands on a round plinth hollowed from below and is adorned with necklaces of polychrome glass pearls and a skirt made of animal skin (both probably a later addition).
A piece with good shiny patina and only minor age-related damage (one minor tear to the back of the head and one to the back of the right arm). H: 54 cm.
According to the stylistic classification of François Neyt in his ‘Songye – The formidable Statuary of Central Africa’, the style of the present Nkisi figure belongs to the ‘first western tradition – Belande region’.

Provenance:
According to information supplied by the current owner, the present figure was brought to a monastery in Vught, near the city of s'Hertogenbosch in Holland, by missionaries of the ‘Scheut Mission’ between 1915 and 1920. The ‘Scheut Order’ was established in Belgium in 1862 and sent missionary delegations to Congo from 1896 onwards. As of 1913 it operated a mission station in the territory of the Songye. The current owner purchased the present figure from the estate of the monastery in Kloster in Vught near s'Hertogenbosch (Holland) when his was closed down in 2005/2007. Currently: Dutch Private Collection. (ME)

Lit.: 'Songye. The formidable Statuary of Central Africa' by Francois Neyt, fig. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.