African figures primitive decor Nkisi N’Kondi hand carved statue -G1543

25.2/12.5-CM
The creation of this sculpture involved the collaborative efforts of several Kongo specialists. Initially, a sculptor fashioned an empty figure which was then imbued with power by a second specialist—the nganga. The nganga inserted bilongo, a combination of animal, plant, and mineral substances, into specific locations within the figure to create the nkisi, or power figure. The nkisi nkondi, a nkisi brimming with hardware, was employed by the nganga in ceremonies that maintained law and order for the community. Each piece of metal in the nkisi nkondi served as both a permanent record of an event and a deterrent against future crimes