Mvwala figure. Kongo (Vili). Lower Zaïre
region. Wood, metal, pigments, mirror, leopard claw.
© Africa-Museum, Tervuren
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Nkondi are representations of the
nkisi spirits who try to deter witches, evil-doers and others whose aim is
to upset social harmony. In this role, the nkisi nkondi assist the chief,
whose first duty is to maintain justice. They are usually anthropomorphic
or zoomorphic figures (dogs), and are made by a sculptor and a nganga
(ritual specialist). The nkondi receives the nganga's supernatural potential
when a receptacle containing magical substances and sealed with a shell or
mirror is attached to its head or belly. Nails are driven into the figure to
validate each oath or appeal for retaliation, and they gradually transform
the nkondi's appearance. As a result, they were seen as malevolent, savage
instruments (inappropriately called "nail fetishes") that were used
indiscriminately, whereas in fact this aggressive "decorating" was carried
out to right specific injustices.
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