Power figure, early 20th century / Minneapolis Institute of Art

Kongo, Nkisi Nkondi - Wood, natural fibers, glass, metal, undetermined materials.
It looks like a man being punished or tortured. But to its Kongo makers and users, this figure was a container, empowered by a ritual specialist to house a specific spirit. The figure was consulted like a traditional chief to settle disputes and arrive at binding decisions. Each nail and blade, driven in to energize its powers, represents an issue resolved by its ritual authority.