The nail figure

Michigan · United States · Haunted site

A security officer's own account. In the African gallery, with the lights out, the figure driven full of iron has been seen to move.

This account comes from a member of the museum's security staff in Detroit, and from colleagues on the afternoon and midnight shifts.

In the African gallery there is a figure driven full of nails and shards of iron. With the lights out, officers have reported it moving.

What the object actually is matters here. A nkisi nkondi is a Kongo power figure, made by a specialist and activated by a community. Each nail or blade was driven into it to seal an oath, settle a dispute or bind a wrongdoer, and every one represents a real agreement between real people. It was never an ornament. It was a legal and spiritual instrument, and it was understood to act.

It is now in a case in Michigan, under lights, on a timer, watched at night by guards.

The museum is open and the African galleries are worth going for.

FAQ

Where is The nail figure located?

The nail figure is in Michigan, United States.

Image: grego1402 / CC BY 2.0 / Wikimedia Commons