The Collection
The American Wing Ancient Near Eastern Art Arms and Armor The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing Asian Art The Cloisters The Costume Institute Drawings and Prints Egyptian Art European Paintings European Sculpture and Decorative Arts Greek and Roman Art Islamic Art Robert Lehman Collection The Libraries Medieval Art Musical Instruments Photographs Antonio Ratti Textile Center Modern and Contemporary Art

Returned to lender The Met accepts temporary loans of art both for short-term exhibitions and for long-term display in its galleries.

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)

Kongo peoples; Yombe group

19th century, inventoried 1898

Not on view

The Hatton & Cookson trading company agent Arthur Clare acquired this Mangaaka with its adjunct Kozo along the Chiloango before 1898. In a letter dated 1904, he specifies that the works were awarded to him by
the Portuguese government for acting as intermediary in a palaver between them and the natives. It may be of interest to know that owing to the great abuses of the fetish priests the Portuguese Government determined some six years ago to destroy [all] the festishes; but notwithstanding the destruction fetishism is just as it was then.
Charged with their delivery to the Salford Corporation Museum and Art Galleries, Ridyard reported the alarm that Mangaaka’s presence instilled in local youth who declined to carry or even approach the figure.

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group — This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka), Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair, Kongo peoples; Yombe group

This artwork is meant to be viewed from right to left. Scroll left to view more.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

This image cannot be enlarged, viewed at full screen, or downloaded.

Title: Power Figure (Nkisi N'Kondi: Mangaaka)

Date: 19th century, inventoried 1898

Geography: Cabinda, Angola, Chiloango River region

Culture: Kongo peoples; Yombe group

Medium: Wood, iron, resin, ceramic, plant fiber, textile, pigment, cowrie shell, animal hide and hair

Dimensions: H. 46 1/2 in. (118 cm), W. 18 1/8 in. (46 cm), D. 13 2/3 in. (35 cm)

Classification: Wood-Sculpture

Credit Line: Manchester Museum, University of Manchester

The Met

The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing at The Met

The Met's collection of art of the peoples of sub-Saharan Africa, the Pacific Islands, and North, Central, and South America comprises more than eleven thousand works of art of varied materials and types, representing diverse cultural traditions from as early as 3000 B.C.E. to the present.