Power Figure (Nkisi)

Songye people, Democratic Republic of the Congo, African

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Male figure with pointed beard, crested coiffure, body scarification, short legs with exagerated musculature, with overall worn patina.
Helmet mask composed of long plank, heavy, hemispherical brow ridge, and tall, vertical, jointed horns. Small square eyes just below brow ridge on either side of the nose are pierced through the plank. Plank divided vertically by raised ridge extending from nose to raised umbilicus, located in bottom third of mask. No mouth is evident. Mask bears traces of symmetrical geometric patterns in red, black and white pigments. A sacred mask owned and worn solely by blacksmiths among the Bobo people; associated with the cult of Dwo.
Jar with cover, both covered entirely with clay "spikes."
Nail, African, iron