Essay On Minkisi

Nkisi derived from the Kongo people of the Democratic Republic of Congo. Nkisi, or minkisi for plural, has no direct translation into the English language. They can be called fetishes because of the abundance nails on them but, the most equivalent translation would be hunter. They “hunt” for solutions to problems such as seeking out wrong doers or to heal. They have been used as tools for curing illness, combating witchcraft, solidifying treaties and more.
There are two main types of minkisi, there were aggressive one and non aggressive ones. The aggressive types are called nkondi, they are typically used to search out those that have violated their oaths, wrongdoers, and cause illnesses. The non aggressive minkisi are typically used for healing magic. Minkisi are typically called fetishes because of their adornment of a multitude of objects. These can include nails and blades that have been hammered into the form. This can resemble every agreement that is made in a contract between two people, the more nails and blades represent a stronger contract. Minkisi can be human representative or anthropomorphic. The ones that
White clay symbolized the pale skin of the dead and their clairvoyance while red was associated with the color of blood. Animals would also carry specific meanings on the minkisi. Birds and other flying creatures were often considered to be very spiritual, so feathers were added, sometimes the feathers were made out of raffia. The head of a kintombo bird would be added to help the divination of the nkisi and the head of a viper would help attack wrongdoers. The shrine for the nkisi couple be in a fixed place in the forest or be somewhere in the village. Most of the minkisi were portable, except for the most important minkisi which were usually in the presence of the nganga where he could use it most