Power Figure: Male (Nkisi), 19th-mid 20th century, Kongo peoples, wood, pigment, nails, cloth, beads, shells, arrows, leather, nuts, and twine, 58.8 x 26 x 25.4 cm (The Metropolitan Museum of Art).

Nkisi or Nkishi (plural varies: minkisi, mikisi, zinkisi, or nkisi) are spirits or an object that a spirit inhabits. It is frequently applied to a variety of objects used throughout the Congo Basin in Central Africa, …

After an artist completed carving the artifact, the "nganga" transformed it into an object capable of healing illness, settling disputes, safeguarding the peace, and punishing wrongdoers. Each work of …

Nkisi, in west-central African lore, any object or material substance invested with sacred energy and made available for spiritual protection. One tradition of the Kongo people of west-central Africa holds …

Minkisi (singular nkisi), often referred to in English as “power figures,” were made by Kongo people, such as the Yombe, residing in the area now known as the Democratic Republic of Congo. These …

The wide eyes of these sculptures suggest a living presence within. In the Kingdom of Kongo, men and women sought healing and protection from diviners who worked with powerful objects called minkisi …

Nov 25, 2024 · The Mangaaka Power Figure, or Nkisi N’Kondi, stands as one of the most compelling artifacts of Central African art, embodying the intersection of spirituality, governance, and communal …

New research on a Kongo nkisi nkondi. This nkisi (power figure) is missing the empowering material from the top of its head, eyes, and stomach and back containers. New research conducted by this …

This sculpture, called nkisi nkonde, functioned as a hunter-healer of conflicts. The figure was commissioned, owned, and activated by the nganga specialist, who was trained and tested as a …

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Kongo peoples, mid to late nineteenth century, wood, paint, metal, resin, ceramic, 118 x 49.5 x 39.4 cm, Democratic Republic of Congo (The Metropolitan …