Nkondi / nkisi figure
Production date
Early 20th Century
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Object detail
Description
Wooden monkey nkondi figure holding a bowl with teeth bared. Wearing a ragged piece of cloth around the waist. Nkondi figures were revered throughout Africa. They are carriers of a variety of magical objects called Nkisi, which can be bags, roots or leaves and are carried on the head or abdomen of the figure. In order to activate these sources the owner insults it, sings or creates an explosion in front of it, or may even hammer nails into its body.
Production date
Early 20th Century
Department
Social History
Object type
Collection
Media/materials
Materials/<materials by origin>/plant material/<wood and wood products>/wood
Materials/<materials by form>/<materials by physical form>/<fiber and fiber products>/<fiber products>/<textile materials>/<textile materials by form>/cloth
Materials/<materials by form>/<materials by physical form>/<fiber and fiber products>/<fiber products>/<textile materials>/<textile materials by form>/cloth
Accession date
2001
Accession no
2001.18
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