Mangaaka Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi), The Metropolitan Museum of Art, NYCThis striking sculpture is an nkisi (pl. minkisi) from the Democratic Republic of Congo. Minkisi are the creation of a sculptor and an nganga (pl. banganga), a ritual specialist in Kongo society. An nkisi is essentially a container of spiritual forces that are directed to investigate the underlying cause of some chronic problem. As spiritual experts, banganga are approached by clients to address any of a multitude of crises that may emerge in the community, including illness, political instability, and social strife. Minkisi are essential to the nganga's profession, creating a focal point from which to draw upon the spirit realm and its powers. Just as minkisi are directed toward specific ends, the banganga that own and control them may be specialized to address specific issues. For instance, only experienced banganga assume the responsibility of the most powerful minkisi, those concerned with political matters and the administration of justice.
After a sculptor carves the figure at the core of the nkisi, it is the responsibility of the nganga to customize it by adding symbolic materials. Consequently, each nkisi is a unique creation, and can be controlled only by the nganga that conceived of its arrangement. The nganga begins by packing various "medicines" about the head and body of the figure. These are weighted with sacred power and spiritual implications, and are often tightly wrapped in knots and nets to give visual expression to the idea of contained forces. The diverse ingredients of the medicines may include special earths and stones, leaves and seeds, parts of animals, bird beaks and feathers, and are specifically combined to attract and direct forces to the desired goal. The figure's belly, or mooyo—which, not coincidentally, also translates as "life" or "soul"—is another spiritual focal point, packed with medicines and then sealed.
As the figure is used and reused, the addition of materials enhances its ability to direct forces while simultaneously augmenting its visual intricacy. As illustrated in this example, nails, bits of cloth, beads, bells, even miniature carvings have all been added to literally and figuratively load the figure with spiritual power. Many of the objects are tied to a cloth collar around the neck, a feature not commonly found on other minkisi. While prevalent teeth and wide, aggressive eyes characterize many other minkisi; this example is further distinguished by the serenity of its facial expression, a sharp contrast to the rusted nails and complex assemblage of accoutrements that ornament the body of the figure below.
The kingdom of Kongo was at the height of its power in 1482, when Portuguese sailors first visited the coast of Central Africa. Founded between 1350 and 1400, the kingdom was a model of centralized government, with a divine king and a network of advisers, provincial governors, and village chiefs who ruled as many as three million people. Portuguese navigators brought with them Catholic missionaries, who converted the kings of Kongo during the sixteenth century. It has been suggested that the practice of piercing the nkisi with nails, spikes, or other elements was adopted from Christian images of martyred saints introduced in the area during this time. Figurative wood sculptures such as these are sometimes called "fetishes," a misleading word derived from the term feitico, which was used by the early Portuguese explorers to describe anything artificial or manmade.
The sculptor gives visual expression to an ideal of unrivaled and assertive force as a presiding authority and enforcing lord. The crowning element is the distinctive headdress worn by chiefs or priests. The figure's posture and gesture—leaning forward arms akimbo—constitute the aggressive attitude of one who challenges fearlessly. There are also vestiges of an abdominal cavity for medicinal matter that originally attracted the figure's defining force. The various metals embedded in the expansive torso attest to the figure's central role as witness and enforcer of affairs critical to its community. They document vows sealed, treaties signed, and efforts to eradicate evil. Ultimately, this work inspired reflection on the consequences of transgressing established codes of social conduct.