Kongo Power Figure

After hours of walking around the Metropolitan Museum of Art, I came across a very interesting sculpture. Failing to find anything to catch my attention in previous parts of the museum, I finally came across the Kongo Power Figure. This sculpture was located in the African art section of the museum. This sculpture caught my attention because it has hundreds of nails driven into its body. It also has a giant hole in its stomach. The nails caught my attention because it made me wonder if this sculpture is a depiction of an actual man being tortured. If it was, I cannot even imagine the great deal of pain he had gone through with all of those nails inserted into his body. The giant hole in this sculpture’s stomach caught my attention as well because it made me wonder if this was a depiction of someone swallowing something valuable and having it ripped out of their stomach. Overall this sculpture looks like a depiction of someone going through a great deal of pain. Looking at sculpture makes me feel sympathetic, it also made we want to learn why there are so many nails and a hole in it’s stomach. The Kongo power figure originated in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. It was
carved out of wood, then covered in ceramic, iron nails, and plant fibers for the added effect. After standing side by side with the Kongo power figure, someone can predict it is about three feet tall. The way this sculpture is bending over with its hands on its waist, makes it seems as if it took a devastating blow to the stomach. Also with its mouth wide open displaying its chipped teeth makes it seems as if its screaming out in pain. This sculpture has about fifteen iron nails aligned across its jawline. Its eyes are almost closed shut, making this sculpture give off a sad feeling. With its feet nailed into the wooded blocks, someone can assume that this sculpture had no freedom to move as if it was a captured prisoner. Many assumptions can be made based on how this sculpture looks. It’s quite contradicting this sculpture is called a power figure, when it gives off emotions of sadness, pain, and defeat. According to the label “This work is among the most monumental examples that served to invoke the preeminent force of jurisprudence, known as Mangaaka. Mangaaka was designed to inspire awe and respect for local authority and the rule of law.” Even though its posture may represent a depiction of a man taking a blow to the stomach. The true meaning of its posture represents an aggressive attitude of someone who fearlessly challenges authority. Although the power figure may give off sad gestures, it gets its name from its fearless posture. The power figure was once considered to be a spirit force.
The big hole in its stomach once held a bilongo, which is the attachment of medical ingredients. The medical ingredients gave this sculpture its supernatural abilities. The power figure was known for serving justice by seeking out people who didn’t follow the law and punishing them. According to the textbook, the power figure served an important public function as an impartial arbiter of justice. The 380 nails that was hammered into this figure represents a signature of an agreement two parties made. For example, if two parties agreed to end war, they would proceed to hammer a nail into this figure. If a party should break the agreement made, this figure would use its supernatural powers to punish the party that broke the
agreement.