Songye power figure, Nsapo region, Congo (Democratic Republic)

The photograph depicts a child holding a power figure. "Although community figures reflect a concern with a more public, official status of magico-religious practices, a vast array of small mankishi, both figurative and non-figurative, was used by individuals throughout the Songye country to resolve intimate ills and tensions. These personal, magical objects that interact with familiar spirits express the immediate, very specific and more short-term crises. They are a part of an innovative folk culture of healing and believing that remains for the large part private and anonymous." [Hersak, D., 2000: Power Figure (Nkishi); Africa: Arts and Cultures. Oxford University Press]. During his trip to Belgian Congo (now Democratic Republic of Congo), Elisofon visited Nsapo villages in the Songye people region. The present day Songye people inhabit a vast area of the Congo concentrated in the province of Eastern and stretching into parts of Katanga and Kiori. The largest subgroups include the Kalebwe, Eastern Songe Songye, Nde, Bala, Cibenji, Lembwe, Songa, Cofew and the Budia. This photograph was taken when Eliot Elisofon was on assignment for Life magazine and traveled to Africa from January 8, 1947 to end of June 1947.