SONGYE POWER (FETISH) FIGURES ARCHIVES, DRC
The figures below have all been sold. They are left here for
education and reference purposes.
The small figure below has been vetted as authentic, with signs of age and
use.
SONGYE STYLE POWER (FETISH) FIGURES ARCHIVES, DRC
Authentic Songye power figures are rare. Despite their appearance, the figures
below show little evidence of age or use and were probably made to be sold.
For UNSOLD Songye figures,
GO TO SONGYE
POWER (FETISH) FIGURES PAGE
GO TO SONGYE
POWER (FETISH) FIGURES 2 PAGE
Photographs © Hamill Gallery
SONGYE, POWER (FETISH) FIGURES ARCHIVES, DRC
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.
GO TO SONGYE POWER (FETISH) FIGURES PAGE
GO TO SONGYE POWER
(FETISH) FIGURES 2 PAGE
GO TO SONGYE POWER
(FETISH) FIGURES ARCHIVES PAGE (ALL SOLD)
GO TO SONGYE SCULPTURE PAGE
GO TO SONGYE
SCULPTURE EXHIBITION PAGE
GO TO FETISH! EXHIBITION
PAGE
GO TO AFRICAN FETISHES
PAGE
GO TO FETISHES
(MISCELLANEOUS) PAGE
GO TO AFRICAN FIGURES PAGE
GO TO NEW ADDITIONS
PAGE
