Nkisi Figure
Origin: Democratic Republic of Congo
Tribe: Kongo
Date:

Collected before 1936

This figure comes from Loango and is unique in that is shows the ribs which may refer to a common ailment in that area such as pneumonia. Licking medicines was most likely part of the ritual for this figure as can be inferred by the protruding tongue. Licking medicines or objects before attaching them to a figure was a common practice.

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