Accession No
1927.334 W
Description
Folded piece of paper with Arabic, possibly Quaranic, text. Used as a charm.
Place
Africa; East Africa; Tanzania; Zanzibar; Pemba Island
Period
Source
Matola, Leslie [field collector]; Hudson, Egbert C. [facilitator]; Ridgeway, William (Professor Sir) [bequeather]
Department
Anth
Reference Numbers
1927.334 W
Cultural Affliation
Material
Paper; Pigment
Local Term
Measurements
90mm
Events
Context (Related Documents)
See the related MAA archives, AA4/6/1, 'Letters from Leslie Matrola, Pemba Island, to Egbert C. Hudson, the Universities Mission, Zanzibar. Containing lists of specimens sent to Prof. W. Ridgeway via Hudson and details of native names of specimens, use and manufacture. There are particularly detailed notes on the contents of the witch doctor's bag and the practice of witchcraft in the area. With letter from Hudson to Ridgeway.'
Event Date
Author: rachel hand
Context (Related Documents)
Charm stored in an envelope: 'No [XXII] / [?]per, probably intended to be divided occasionally [?] patient who it may [?] and sewn in a [?hide] [?] [?amulet] or a [?] Strange to say [?] or knows not to write or read. He employs only one who can [?] and pays some money for it.'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Display)
Possible display label found with 1927.334 A-W: 'Witch-doctor's outfit from Pemba, East Africa. / This outfit is of great interest, as the contents were identified by an intelligent native. / Ridgeway Collection.'
Event Date
Author: Katrina Dring
Context (Field collection)
Label tied bag 1927.334 A: 'Medicine Man's Bag, Pemba and German East Africa. Bought for me by Natolo, Pemba'.
Event Date 1927
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Catalogue card 1927.334 A-W:
'A: Medicine man's bag containing:
B: Mwatua yiwe - "stone breaker". Bits of stick.
C: Viunza. 2 bits of boards for making coffins.
D: Mwangao. Bit of stick.
E: Mwangajini. 2 bits of stick.
F: Mchofuo. Bits of stick.
G: Msandali. Piece of sandal wood.
H: Ambari nusi. Black amber gris.
I: Tin case containing powder of Ngariba, a tooth and rags.
J: Mtandakanga - a root.
K: Mpingo - piece of ebony.
L: Piece of string with a bit of root attached.
M: Parcel of miscellaneous roots.
N: Missing, was of wood and human hair.
O: Small bottle of blood.
P: Bottle of Unga wa ndere tied up in a rag.
Q: Oil of Kambaru. Human fat.
R: Packet of bones, amber gris and Uvumba (incense).
S: Unga wa Ngano. Corn flower.
T: Mrukiani, bit of stick.
U: Vuo - bottle.
V: Marmara, marble for grinding.
W: Arabic written charm.
See written account.'
Event Date 1927
Author: maa
Description (Physical description)
Folded piece of paper with Arabic, possibly Quaranic, text. Used as a charm.
Event Date 7/4/2022
Author: Katrina Dring
FM:296152
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