This individual is wearing a headdress made of bird feathers and a wrapper with a bird motif. He may be an nganga or Kongo ritual specialist because such attire is reserved for persons of distinction. The man is striking an object that appears to be feathered, but is difficult to identify.

The bird motif on his wrapper is significant. According to Wyatt MacGaffey, a leading scholar of Kongo culture, birds are equated with spirits because they fly, stir the air like witches, prophets, and migrant souls, and perch in trees like ghosts or simbi, a dangerous spirit. The gray parrot with its red tail feathers, in particular, "speaks to reveal secrets" and represents divination. One is left questioning whether this scene represents a sacrifice or whether other acts of significant violence are being committed.