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This wooden&nbsp;figure depicts a female with a strikingly large, balloon-shaped animal skin sack tied above the crown of her head. An animal horn has been embedded within this massive sack. Representative of the northern style of Kusu carvings which is known to have sharp, angular forms, this&nbsp;<em>kakudji</em>&nbsp;features an ovoid head; a rounded, convex face and forehead; large ears; prominent cheekbones; coffeebean-shaped eyes within large ocular cavities; a well-defined, pointed nose; an elliptical mouth with slightly parted lips; a long, cylindrical neck; arms bent at the elbow, forming a 90-degree angle at the waist; and breasts that are situated nearly at shoulder level. The figure possesses a swollen belly, indicating pregnancy, and hence, representing the themes of maternity, fertility, and the continuation of the lineage. Animal skin enshrouds the female&rsquo;s lower body. Tukula powder, derived from the camwood tree and used to consecrate&nbsp;<em>kakudji</em>, appears on the figure&rsquo;s
Kusu (Kusu (Luba region style))
Power Figure
1915 – 1925
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.223
This carved wooden figure depicts a standing male, and is one of a pair that includes a female figure also carved by the same hand. According to noted art historian Niangi Batulukisi, these two figures deviate from the classical Bembe style and are “an extreme rarity” due to the fact that they are likely connected to an ancient pre-Bembe style.<br /><br /> The male figure’s trunk is disproportionately long, while the legs are slightly flexed at the knees. His facial features includes closed eyes set in round, ocular cavities and a perfectly rounded, open mouth.  The hairstyle bears geometric motifs. Most striking, however, is that medicinal substances have been tied around the male’s entire torso--indeed from his neck to his pelvis--by tightly-wound, resin-covered strings. Moreover, a hole appears on the crown of his head, likely intended for the placement of an animal horn containing even more medicinal ingredients. A small sliver of a white shell appears across the figure’s chest. Traces of tukula powder ca
Bembe (Bembe (Kongo))
Male Figure
1865 – 1875
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.196.2
Naturalistic cow’s head of carved from wood with eyes cut from the bottoms of glass bottles. Natural cow horns are attached. Head is predominantly black with white triangle on forehead, red pigment surrounding eyes, red in interior of ears, white chin, and white dots on cheeks and in red ground around eyes. Horns are white, tipped in black; a fiber cord runs through its nostrils and around back of head.<br />
Bijogo (Bijogo)
Mask (vaca bruto, dugn'be type)
1925 – 1975
Gift of Avery Z. Eliscu
1984/1.273
A hollow animal horn with a braided fiber attached through a hole towards the horn's tip. Various linear designs, including intersecting lines, run along the bow of the horn in addition to concentric circles and zigzag lines.
Kuba (Kuba (Democratic Republic of Congo style))
Drinking horn
1875 – 1885
Museum Purchase made possible by the Friends of the Museum of Art
1984/2.33
This carved wooden figure depicts a standing female, and is one of a pair that includes a male figure also carved by the same hand. According to noted art historian Niangi Batulukisi, these two figures deviate from the classical Bembe style and are “an extreme rarity” due to the fact that they are likely connected to an ancient pre-Bembe style.<br /><br /> The female figure’s trunk is disproportionately long, while the legs appear stockier and are slightly flexed at the knees. Her facial features include narrow eyes set in round, ocular cavities and an open mouth. The hairstyle is of a simple design. The breasts and the umbilicus protrude outward, the shoulders curve inward, and the palms of the hand rest upon either side of the abdomen. Traces of tukula powder can be found upon the figure’s surface.<br /><br /> It is almost certain that the female figure’s torso was at one point wrapped with medicinal ingredients, just like her male counterpart. Moreover, a hole appears on the crown of her head, likely inten
Bembe (Bembe (Kongo))
Female Figure
1865 – 1875
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.196.1
This anthropomorphic <em>nkisi</em>, or power figure, stands upright with its head turned 90 degrees to the side. Like many <em>minkisi</em>, this one features a wide range of materials. A long metal chain hangs around its neck and a fiber packet containing medicinal substances is tied across its forehead with its loose ends dangling far below. More fiber is wrapped around its lower torso. The face features a slightly parted mouth and large eyes with attentive, black pupils. Protruding from the figure is a large, prominent belly, upon which is affixed a small horn.  
Vili (Kongo) (Vili)
Power Figure
1870 – 1880
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.177
Carved wooden human figure attached to an animal's horn. A plug or mushroom shaped projection extends from the human figure's head.
Yaka (Yaka (Kwango-Kwilu region style))
Power figure (nkisi)
20th century
Gift of Dr. James and Vivian Curtis
1997/1.346
Animal horn engraved with the Royal Coat of Arms of the United Kingdom, in which a crowned lion and a chained unicorn supporting a shield stand above a banner with the motto “dieu et mon droit” (which directly translated from French means “God and my right” referring to the monarch’s divine right to govern which has been used as the motto of the British monarch since it was adopted by Henry V (1413-1422)). The shield consists of four quadrants: the first quadrant contains four lions, the second contains three fleurs de lis, the third contains a mermaid and a harp, the fourth contains three lions and a stag or dog-like animal. Surrounding the shield is a belt or garter upon which is emblazoned “Honi soit qui mal y pense” which means “evil unto they who think evil,” the motto of the Order of the Knights of the Garter, an ancient exclusive British order consisting of 25 members who were selected by the king of England. Near the base, the horn is engraved with a cityscape of Philadelphia from the harbor with nu
Artist Unknown
Engraved Powder Horn
18th century
Museum purchase made possible by the W. Hawkins Ferry Fund
2007/1.101
This Songye&nbsp;<em>nkisi,&nbsp;</em>which depicts a standing male figure, displays many of the characteristic hallmarks of Songye anthropomorphic carvings, namely: an overall strong geometric form, squared shoulders, a large head, a triangular face with a rounded forehead and concave cheeks, deep ocular cavities, a rectangular mouth, diminutive ears, and a long, ringed neck. The head is strikingly studded with numerous, indigenously-made brass tacks; furthermore, a cavity on the skull suggests that a horn was at one point likely placed there. A belt of animal skin filled with medicinal substances is wrapped around the chest, while two strands of colored beads are tied across the torso. Three bells, themselves affixed to the strings of beads, dangle below the&nbsp;<em>nkisi&nbsp;</em>figure. An animal skin loincloth covers the bottom half of the figure. In addition to kaolin, the&nbsp;<em>nkisi</em>&rsquo;s surface bears a crusty patina, evidence that it was the recipient of consecrational and votive libatio
Songye;Kalebwe (Songye)
nkisi
1845 – 1855
Gift of Candis and Helmut Stern
2005/1.228
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