Nkissi

The statues Minkissi ( sing.: Nkissi) of the Kongolike all the Nkissi, are protective figures that acquire their strength and power after being loaded by the Nganga with all the magic ingredients needed to reach the intended end. The name Nkissi comes from the objects from which fetishes Nkondi are carriers, means sacred. These objects, which contain the magic load, can be small bags with certain herbs or substances, roots, small statuettes, hair, shells, beaks and nails, bones or multitude of elements, which after being loaded will acquire their magical potential. These charges, nkissithey are placed on the head or belly of the nkondi, hence the name Nkissi-nkondi. The magic charge, bilongois intended to cure, to favor good hunting, fishing or harvesting and mainly to protect against witchcraft and the evil effects of sorcery Kindoki. But if proper use is not made it can have a negative effect.

These statues are not intended to be contemplated but manipulated by the Nganga They must act so that through their mediation beings from beyond can intervene either by protecting or causing harm. These hidden forces are neither good nor bad, which is why they must be guided by the specialist to emerge the effect sought by the client, such as fighting a spell, healing a disease, clarifying a crime or favoring hunting or childbirth.

The Nganga or sorcerer activates the fetish with magical passes to make it operational and in the midst of magical rites it is sinking nails or iron sheets into the fetish. A nail or blade can mean a cured disease, a favor obtained or an enemy punished or downed.

ventral dryness, protected by a piece of mirror. The mirror has great magical qualities, among others, that of driving away those who dare to look at it because they would be reflected in it, which would mean that they would have taken away their soul.

Once endowed with these supernatural forces, fetishes must fight against the hidden forces or, where appropriate, use them. They are protective fetishes that can serve to avenge the innocent, transmitting to the guilty sudden diseases or misfortunes that can cause them death.

The Nganga or sorcerer activates the fetish with magical passes to make it operational and in the midst of magical rites it is sinking nails or iron sheets into the fetish. A nail or blade can mean a cured disease, a favor obtained or an enemy punished or downed. Nails or blades are a kind of signature that closes the Nganga's pact with the customer in relation to a given word or promise. If the agreement is broken, the Nganga must remove the nail or foil that symbolizes that covenant so that it is annulled and he must be very careful not to get the nail wrong. The Nganga would lose his prestige if he was forced to pluck nails.

They are used in divinatory or curative practices. Families, individuals or peoples can approach the Nganga for a specific demand, cure a sick person, obtain a good harvest, win a war, expose a guilty person, fight the spells of a sorcerer, favor hunting or administer justice. As many demands as the needs can be met by the members of the community.

This nail fetish has two heads thanks to which you can look at different sides and see the present and the future, see the good and detect the bad. He carries a magic or bilong load in his belly and another one in his back.