Nkisi figure 'Chcôca'

Wooden nail-covered figure of a man with a box on his stomach

This Nkisi power figure is of the violent Nkondi (hunter) type. It depicts a man wearing a hat with his right hand raised. On the stomach of the figure is a projecting boss with a mirrored front that conceals the bilongo or ‘medicines’ (magical preparations). Around the neck is an iron link chain with a smaller bilongo pack attached. The nails would have been hammered in to activate the power of the figure each time it was operated by the mganga (healer or ritual specialist).

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