Nail Figure (nkisi n'kondi)

ca. 1875-1900; Zaire, Yombe; Wood, screws, nails, blades, cowrie shell, other
materials; height 116.8 cm (46 in.) Eleanor Clay Ford Fund for African Art;
76.79

This Nail Figure served as doctor, judge, and priest. It was carved to capture the power of spirits (minkisi, singular nkisi) which was necessary for healing and adjudicating disputes. The figure was filled with powerful magical substances (bilongo) by priests (naganga) who tended it in a shrine and made its spirit powers available to individuals. The large cowrie shell beld strong medicines that gave the sculpture its power. This nkisi n'kondi would have originally worn a large beard and a straw skirt.

When an agreement was reached both sides would swear an oath before the nkisi n'kondi and drive iron blabes or nails into it to seal the oath. In this way the figure's supernatural powers could be called upon to punish those who broke their oaths.