Songye Bishimba Figure

The Songye people are based in the Democratic Republic of Congo (formerly Zaire). The Songye are perhaps best known for their artworks that are both institutional and domestic or personal in nature. The main function of a piece like this is to protect the Songye community and ward off evil forces using their bishimba, which are magical ingredients that are either stored within their head, within a horn at the top of the head, or inside their abdomen. Some ingredients of bishimba might include materials such as organic residues, grave earth and biological objects such as feathers, claws or fur. The figures are often adorned with gifts in the form of furs, bells and other objects that are used to dress the figure. They also tend to receive libations, physical manifestations of appeals made for spiritual assistance.