Songye ancestor statue - DR Congo

Origin. Democratic Republic of the Congo
Tribe name. Songye
Material. Wood, horns
Dimensions. 80 cm including the horn
Shipping method. Colissimo in 24–48 hours

This anthropomorphic statue belongs to traditional Songye art (Democratic Republic of the Congo), more specifically to the category of power or protection figures often called Nkisi (or Bichi):
​Materials and structure: Carved from hardwood patinated by time and ritual handling, the statue rests on a circular base of unfinished wood. It has a long, ringed cylindrical neck supporting a large head.
​Headdress and facial attributes: The top of the skull is crowned with a tall inserted animal horn, a classic symbol of power and magical protection among the Songye. The face, with its expressive, angular features, has eyes inlaid with cowrie shells (or small shells), a straight, prominent nose, and a large oval mouth wide open, with outlined lips.
​The body and magical charge: The torso is marked by a large, prominent abdominal protrusion, pierced or fitted with a cavity (the bilongo, or magical charge of traditional ritual ingredients), sealed here with a red disk. The navel and belly are surrounded by necklaces and strips of leather or braided cords.
​The back and details: The back of the statue shows the continuation of the neck rings, a stylized spine, and a red cord worn diagonally across the body and trailing down the back. The overall posture is hieratic, with bent legs anchoring the figure to its circular base.