Nkisi

Nkisi is just like magic! Imagine you have a special toy that has amazing powers. You can use this toy to help make things happen the way you want them to. Nkisi is like that toy, but for grown-ups. It's a special wooden figure that people in some parts of Africa believe has power to make things happen or to protect them from bad things happening.

These wooden figures, or nkisi, are made by people who are really good at carving wood. They take a piece of wood and make it look like a person, with arms, legs, head, and even eyes and mouth. Then, they put special things inside the nkisi to make it even more powerful. These things might include a special kind of rock, a feather, or even something from an animal.

People who believe in nkisi will use them to help them with all sorts of things. For example, if they're feeling sick, they might use a nkisi to help them feel better. Or, if they're worried about something bad happening, they might use a nkisi to protect them. They might even ask the nkisi to help them get something they really want, like a job or a new home.

So, just like your special toy has the power to make you feel happy and safe, nkisi has the power to help grown-ups do things they want or to keep them safe from bad things happening. It's a really important part of some people's culture and beliefs.