Male figure

Object Details

Label Text

The term nkisi (pl. minkisi) has no English equivalent. In the past "fetish" and "power figure" have been used as brief identifiers, but they do not convey the word's meaning. A nkisi is the physical container for a spirit from the other world, the land of the dead. When activated by a specialist, or nganga, it has the power to heal, to protect or to punish. Minkisi can be dramatic wooden sculptures with mirror-covered resin boxes added to hold the empowering substances, or they can be ordinary containers such as pots, net bags and baskets. An active nkisi requires the rituals of its nganga, and it always contains medicines, materials with potential spiritual powers. The mirror-covered stomach pack, the wrapped amulets around the neck and the feathered headdress and packet atop the head identify this figure as a nkisi. The hands on hips pose would have been considered assertive, even aggressive. The figure once had a personal name and invocations that are now lost to us.

The public performance aspect of the rituals would have made the purpose of the nkisi clear, but much about the composition of its medicines would have been known only to the nganga, possessor of the ability to see into the spirit world. There is a certain blurring of identity between the nganga and the nkisi. Both man and carving can wear feather hats that attract attention during performance and whose fluttering (vevila) of feathers refers to a breeze or spirit, known as mpeve. Literally every item, color and form on this figure has a meaning, so that what began as a relatively simply modeled sculpture becomes an exposition of Kongo beliefs to those with the eyes of knowledge.

Description

Wood standing male figure with hand on hips pose, mirror covered box on torso, wrapped cloth around neck, ceramic eyes and brim with cloth wrapped feathers on head.

Provenance

Herbert Baker, Pacific Palisades, California, -- to 1968

Exhibition History

African Sculpture, Princeton University Art Museum, February 2-March 14, 1971, no. 128

Published References

Museum of African Art. 1971. African Sculpture at Princeton University from the Museum of African Art. Washington, D.C.: Museum of African Art, p. 36, no. 128.

Content Statement

As part of our commitment to accessibility and transparency, the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art is placing its collection records online. Please note that some records are incomplete (missing image or content descriptions) and others reflect out-of-date language or systems of thought regarding how to engage with and discuss cultural heritage and the specifics of individual artworks. If you see content requiring immediate action, we will do our best to address it in a timely manner. Please email nmafacuratorial@si.edu if you have any questions.

Image Requests

High resolution digital images are not available for some objects. For publication quality photography and permissions, please contact the Eliot Elisofon Photographic Archives at https://africa.si.edu/research/eliot-elisofon-photographic-archives/

Data Source

National Museum of African Art

Maker

Kongo artist

Date

Late 19th-early 20th century

Credit Line

Gift of Herbert Baker

Medium

Wood, glass, feather, hide, cloth, pigment, resin, plant fiber

Dimensions

H x W x D: 40.6 x 10.8 x 12.1 cm (16 x 4 1/4 x 4 3/4 in.)

Type

Figure