SONGYE POWER (FETISH) FIGURES 2

Click on a name to see a larger image and other views.

SONGYE
Figure 36
34"
$1200 

SONGYE
Figure 42
21"
$1200  

SONGYE
Figure 31
51.5"
$800 

 

SONGYE
Figure 35
31.5"
$800  

SONGYE
Figure 34
34"
$800 

SONGYE
Figure 37
27"
$700  

SONGYE
Figure 45
15.25"
$600

SONGYE
Figure 44
15.5"
$500 

SONGYE
Figure 46
14"
$500 

 SONGYE
Figure 38
24.5"
$450 

SONGYE
Figure 40
25.25"
$400  

SONGYE
Figure 39
23"
$400  

SONGYE
Figure 49
10"
$400 

SONGYE
Figure 47
14"
$300  

 

SONGYE
Figure 50
9"
$200  

SONGYE
Figure 32
41.5"
SOLD 


The figures below have been sold. They are left here for educational and reference purposes.

 

 SONGYE
Figure 33
SOLD

 

SONGYE
Figure 41
SOLD

 

 SONGYE
Figure 43
SOLD

 

SONGYE
Figure 48
SOLD

Photographs © Tim Hamill

SONGYE, POWER FIGURES 2, Dem. Rep. Congo

The Songye made power figures, Nkisi (singular) and Mankishi (plural), to combat witchcraft and sorcery. They were benign and were believed to bring good, promote fertility and success, vanquish enemies and protect from evil. Large ones were owned by and served the community; small ones were for individual families.

Adorned with additional objects, Bajimba, with magical properties (horns, skins, teeth, hair, feathers, beads, tacks, cloth, etc.), they gained their power not from the carver but from the Nganga, or spiritual leader. Their carving was considered secondary to their power. Often too powerful to touch, they were moved with long sticks. Although protective, these are confrontational objects, with a warrior's attitude.

Many of the features show a relationship to the masks of the Kifwebe association.

Despite their appearance, these figures show little evidence of age or use and were probably made to be sold.

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