A Songye Power Figure, Democratic Republic of Congo

A Songye Power Figure, Democratic Republic of Congo This power figure was created to ward off witchcraft and sorcery and protect the community in which it lived with. These figures are created in collaboration between a skilled carver and a ritual practictioner in order to fully realise the figure's power. This figure depicts a woman, as denoted by the breasts and vulva. This figure has many typical features of Songye carvings, such a square jaw, almond-shaped eyes, hands resting on a large stomach, and a horn atop its head. The figure is wearing a woven grass skirt and has a lashed band sitting above the stomach with two horns dangling from it. On custom presentation stand. H690 W230 D200mm Provenance: Lim-Strutt Collection, Aotearoa