Songye Power Figure, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Allan Stone, New York

The subtle, naturalistic style of the head of this long-serving power figure contrasts with a geometrically-arranged grid of torso and limbs.  The conception of the head, which is nearly life sized and of relatively anatomical proportions, featuring proportional facial features and remarkably lifelike ears, is unusual for a Songye sculpture.

The faceted rendering of the torso begins with naturalistic, triangular clavicals atop paralellogram pectorals.  The short upper arms extend from the powerful shoulders and return to the body in massive block-like hands, leaving oval openings through which are strung magic attachments of animal horns and a spherical wooden charm.  Viewed from the side, the line of the arms continuing into the legs form an even zig-zag, the angle of the elbow echoed in the angle of the knees.

The back of the figure features an upward pointing triangle representing the shoulder blades, and a mirrored downward pointing triangle at the pelvis.  The shoulder blades are punctuated by two circular cavities packed with blackened charge materials.

Age cracks at either side of the head, and at either side of the plinth have been repaired in situ with old nails and metal plates, attesting to the figures long ritual life.