Kongo (Bakongo, Bashikongo, Kakongo), Angola and Democratic Republic of the CongoKongo (Bakongo, Bashikongo, Kakongo), Angola and Democratic Republic of the Congo
Public Konde (nkisi) Nail Fetish. Nail fetishes are a unique and important phenomenon of
Kongo sculpture. In the Kongo, all these fetishes are called nkisi. Nkisi
means “medicine”. Historically, there were two types of nkisi, public and
private, with some having vital democratizing roles, as sources of empowerment for rural
residents and individuals outside the court. In order to
face certain trials (illness, conflict, sterility, sorcery, etc), the Kongo take recourse
in this type of object. Inserting nails or pieces of metal into the nkisi to tie
down an agreement or lawsuit is called bibaaku. It activates the figure to bring
destruction to those who do not fulfill their end of the pact, oath, or treaty. Thus they
attempt to resolve their problem, or to intimidate or punish the individual responsible
for it. An nkisi is made by a sculptor who works together with a nganga
(ritual expert). The sculptor carves a male figure. Next, the nganga completes the
figure by placing the ingredients that have positive or negative power in an abdominal
cavity made by the sculptor. These ingredients are ‘carriers’ for a variety of
magical objects, which can be sand, roots or leaves, or other objects. Keeping track of
the precise history of each insertion was the duty of the nganga. As one source
says, the nkisi is “a hiding place for people’s souls, to keep and
compose in order.
