Nkishi
Songye people – Democratic Republic of the Congo – Wood
12,5 cm
Provenance:
Private collection, Belgium (Collected in situ)
Publication:
Mankishi. Montagut Gallery. Barcelona, 2023. fig. 4
Songye statues are numerous and vary in size. Generally male, they stand on a circular base, have an elongated torso and hands resting on the abdomen. Accessories are sometimes applied to fight against evil and aggressive forces. In addition, the top of the head and the belly are often hollowed out to hold magical substances called bishimba.
Smaller fetishes were reserved for individual use and protected against illness and death.
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