Handcarved hardwooden statue with traces of kaolin clay, polychromy and bilongo present
Rusty nails in all shapes and forms are all over the body
This kind of statue is called statue Nkisi nkondi or power figure
It is a spiritual container or vessel used to enforce oaths, finalize legal covenants, heal illnesses, or ward off malevolent forces
The open mouth associated with speaking out against evil, and a central cavity holding bilongo, magical or medicinal substances,  around the navel.
A ritual specialist would drive a rusty nail, blade, or peg into the wooden body each time a dispute was settled, a contract signed, or a curse invoked. The act of hammering the metal into the figure serves to “wake up” the spirit within to witness the agreement or attack a transgressor. The overwhelming density of iron shards covering the torso indicates its frequent utilization and high value within its community
Traces of wear, customary to sacrificial statues
20^th century tribal art from the Democratic Republic of Congo