The Nkisi (pronounced in-kee-see) is a power figure of the Yombe peoples, Democratic Republic of the Congo (18th-19th century). I met the Nkisi in the Fowler Museum during a class visit recently. The anthropology graduate students gave us a tour and introduced us to various healing artifacts from all over the world displayed in their permanent collection. The nails in this Nkisi were nailed by community spiritual practitioners to wake the spirits so that community members could make their requests. The strips of cloth hanging from the Nkisi's neck represent requests granted. The Nkisi was probably displayed publicly and served as a reminder of the protection and power accessible to the community.
This ritual from worlds away reminds me of growing up in a Spanish-speaking Pentecostal Christian church. Every Tuesday, Friday and twice on Sundays, part of the church service included spontaneous prayer requests (peticiones) and testimonials about prayers answered (testimonios) from church members, interspersed with singing, clapping and playing the tambourine (to waken our spirit?). Where do we put it now? Where do we take our requests? How do we communicate our gratitude privately and publicly? What symbols are meaningful to us now?
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