Fetish - Songye - DR Congo (No reserve price)

Songye fetish, or Nkishi (plural Mankishi), originating from the Democratic Republic of Congo.
These anthropomorphic figures play a mediating role between gods and men in African culture.
They are "charged" with magical substances, called bishimba, by a specialist (nganga) in order to activate their protective spirit.
The statue has typical features, including a geometric face, a prominent navel, and a terminal horn that probably contained a magical charge.
Accessories such as the fiber skirt and animal skins are added to increase magical power and repel evil spirits.
The large figures protect the entire village, while the smaller ones are intended for personal or family use.