Fetish - Wood - Yaka - Congo DRC

H= 29cm, 30 cm on the custom made base.

This old Yaka fetish figure was brought back by Belgian colonial around 1930.
It was used to heal and protect and given it's power by the Nganga.

Such objects are frequently called 'fetish' figures, referring to the fact that they were believed to have magical powers or that excessive devotion was paid to them, this is an entirely European term and evolved from a condescending misinterpretation of African civilisation.

The figure is filled with magical substances wrapped in textile, Textiles that were attached to the figures were often strips from the client's clothing, and personalised the request. On the upper part the feathers ( some missing) link the figure to the violence of the sky; winds, rain, thunder, lightning, and fire, and to the diseases of the upper body, head, neck and chest.