Nkisi Nkondi Power Figure Analysis

I selected the Power Figure (Nkisi Nkondi) from The Brooklyn Museum’s Collections: Art of Africa. It was difficult to narrow the choice to only one. Each piece had so many eye catching elements. Each piece had its own story to tell and teach us about its history. The Nkisi Nkondi demanded my attention by the aggressive stature and glaring eyes. To fully appreciate this piece we need to learn its history.
The Power Figure also known as Nkisi (in-KEE-see) Nkondi (in-CON-dee) came from the Kongo culture. It is also referred to as Nkondi or Nkonde nail fetish. Fetishes were created to be figures used for protection over the entire community to ward off evil spirits, prevent illnesses and help uphold justice. A spiritual person of the community would bless the statue using their spiritual …show more content…
The carver would create the shape but without the spiritual blessing the carving it was just a mere object. The Nganga (spiritual person) filled the Nkisi with spiritual powers to enable it to protect and help the followers. The carver made this figure of a male that was nude. Sometimes it could also be carved into an animal shape. Then a bread was craved upon his face. The beard represented the positive and negative powers that encircle him. The Nkisi Nkondi is made of many materials such as dirt, animal skin, leaves, ceramic, pigment, raffia and iron. Its height is about 33 7/8 inches tall and its width is about 13 ¾ inches wide. Its expression is always aggressive. His mouth is open as if he is yelling a warning to the evil that may come. His metallic eyes seem to be transfixed as a glare directed to the follower that is gazing upon him taking their vow. The face seemed to be carved to be very realistic but the other parts of the body seem to be adored to hide some of its features. The stomach of the statue contains grains, teeth, fingernails, grains, feathers, and pieces of