Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N’Kondi)

The figure leans toward you, with hands planted on the hips and a mouth held open. Pale eyes stand out against the wood. Across the chest and abdomen, pieces of iron project in different directions, almost hiding the carved surface beneath them. A Yombe-Kongo sculptor and a nganga, a ritual specialist, worked together to make this figure around 1880–1900. It was a container for the force called Mangaaka, associated with the settling of disputes and the enforcement of agreements. The metal recorded vows, agreements and community conflicts. Its accumulation gives the body a visible history of repeated use. Look at the opening in the abdomen. It once held substances placed there to activate the figure. Carved form, inserted materials and the specialist’s work all contributed to its purpose. The chiefly headdress and firm stance present authority through the body as well. You can still follow the line of each arm down to the hips, despite the dense growth of metal across the front.