carved wood african People and Animals in African Art African yaka or holo carved wood african statues of this type, called njila, are placed in houses. They fend off witches and other enemies. The Njila bird carved wood african statue is placed in the hostel as a protective talisman and has strong connotations of fertility. There is a head depicting an owl, a bird with keen eyesight. This wooden statue is collected in Kwango carved wood african area.