Global Art & Artifacts

nkisi

Nail Fetish Statue.  Yombe.  Maternal Figure.  Carving.  Congo.  DRC.  Africa.

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    The vast Yombe area – the forested region of the Lower Zaire River – represents an important geographic chapter in the artistic history of black Africa.  It has the greatest, most prolific and finest concentration of maternity figures and stone statuary.   The Yombe female phemba statues… Continue reading

Rare Yoruba Fetish Figure.  Statue.  Wood. Southwestern Nigeria. Africa.

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    The Yoruba peoples inhabit a large part of southwestern Nigeria.  They have been known to place their trust in the powers of the fetish to assist them during times of need.  A fetish – aka Nkisi – is a wood carving that the village… Continue reading

Unique and Rare Nkondi Nkisi Nail Fetish Statue.  Shaman.  Nganga.  Sculpture. Kongo.  DRC.  Congo.

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    Created by a shaman or Nganga who gathers spiritual items (organic materials, medicines, etc) which is placed in hollow cavities in the abdomen (and sometime the forehead).  In this case, such spiritual items are behind a glass shield.  Nails are driven into the statue as a… Continue reading

Old Tribal Bakongo Double-Faced Mask with Fetish / Nkisi Nails and Head Cap.  Manyanga Tribe.  Kongo Kingdom.  DRC. Africa 

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    The Manyanga tribe live on the right bank of the Zaire (aka Congo) River.  The location is near the tributary of the Lefini River.   This is a relatively unknown tribe whose artists are known for their elongated faces, rounded cheeks, carefully rendered faces and nails.  … Continue reading

Old Tribal Bakongo Mask with Fetish / Nkisi Nails and Head Cap.  Manyanga Tribe.  Kongo Kingdom.  DRC. Africa 

Click the photo above for a larger version and more pictures

    The Manyanga tribe live on the right bank of the Zaire (aka Congo) River.  The location is near the tributary of the Lefini River.   This is a relatively unknown tribe whose artists are known for their elongated faces, rounded cheeks, carefully rendered faces and nails.  … Continue reading

Huge and Rare Yombe Nkisi / Nkondi Three – Faced Statue.  Vili / Loango Tribe.  DRC / Congo.  Africa

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  During the 13th Century, the Kongo people began their expansion into Gabon, Zaire and Angola.  One of the original tribes was called the Vili that now stretches across the coasts of Gabon and parts of the old Zaire.   Nail fetishes (aka Nkondi) are created to carry a… Continue reading
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