Power statue (nkishi) of a man

The nkishi had a protective role for the Songye people. It served to cope with personal and communal problems such as sickness, death, failed harvests or bad hunts.

Small statues provided individual protection. Because anyone could make them, they are found in many different styles. Large statues were commissioned from well-known wood carvers and often served the entire village for many generations.

The large power statues were the result of close cooperation between a wood carver and a ritual specialist. The wood carver woud makee a statue that acted as a vessel to absorb supernatural powers. The ritual specialist would activate it with songs and sacrificial spells. He hid the magical substances (bishimba) in the abdominal cavity. Magical substances could be used in two ways: for harmful but also for protective ends.