103 FIGS. 3 and 4: Two “nail figures.” Kongo people (possibly Yombe subgroup), Democratic Republic of the Congo (probably). (Left) Wood, iron nails, wool and cotton cloth, mirrors, magic material, pigment. H: 40 cm. Purchased from W. O. Oldman, London, 1912 (AF 3684). (Right) Wood, iron nails and blades, mirrors, magic material, pigment. H: 84 cm. Purchased from W. O. Oldman, London, 1924 (AF 5361). Images courtesy of the Penn Museum. These two examples of a special genre of Kongo nkisi known as nkondi—which means “hunter”—show the typical threatening gesture of a raised arm which once held a sword or knife. As suggested by its name, an nkisi nkondi’s first task was to identify and punish wrong-doers. Aside from the medicines contained in resin packets on the belly and/or the head, the figures’ powers are expressed in the multitude of nails, blades, and other hardware driven into their entire body—which are preserved almost integrally in the larger example of the two (AF 5361). These injuries would anger the nkisi, inciting him to seek out and harm the thief, the person who had caused illness or death, or he who swore a false oath. An accumulation of hardware indicated an nkisi’s successful career while adding to its fearsome reputation. For more information, see especially Wyatt MacGaffey in Gustaaf Verswijver, et al. (eds.). Treasures from the Africa-Museum, Tervuren. Tervuren: Royal Museum for Central Africa, 1995. C.P. Penn Museum
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