Figure (kiteki)
1880–1950
- Medium
- Wood, lizard skin, leopard tooth, pods, cloth, and natural fiber
- Dimensions
- Overall: 23 cm (9 1/16 in.)
- Genre
- sculpture
- Museum
- Cleveland Museum of Art
Styles
Tags
Africa, Central Africa, Democratic Republic of Congo, Yaka-style carver
About
Biteki is the generic name for Yaka figures used as containers for magical ingredients. After being charged by a ritual specialist, they become minkisi, or power objects, and gain the power to either cure or harm. This example, with various leadership accouterments, likely belongs to the category called phuungu. Placed inside a house, the statuette would have protected against witches and other evil.