Nkosi Nkondi Fetish Figure
Tribe: BaKonga
Country: Congo
Material: Wood, Cloth, Metal
Size: 48" Tall
Figures like this one are called nkisi nkondi and are essentially containers for powerful magical/medicinal ingredients, for example, upon concluding peace between two warring villages, representatives from both sides would first take an oath before the nkisi nkondi, and then each party would hammer iron wedges or a knife into the figure and fire a salute. Or, an oath sworn before the nkisi nkondi would make a title search on real estate unnecessary because with the driving in of a piece of iron, the title to the land would be secured through the generations. Or, a blade could be driven into the figure to activate its magical powers.
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