IDNO

N.19308.ROS

Description

Royal fetish ‘worn by the King each morning when bathing’ on a table with other amulets? (like beaded necklaces?) hanging down from a wooden? structure, set against a white wall background. The fetish worn by the King is made of cloth? and decorated with cowrie shells.

Place

E Africa; Uganda; Bunyoro

Cultural Affliation

Banyoro (Bakitara)

Named Person

Andereya Bisereko Duhaga II (b. 1882 - d. 1924)

Photographer

?Roscoe, John R.

Collector / Expedition

Roscoe, John R. [Mackie Ethnological Expedition, Uganda, 1919 - 1920]

Date

1919 - 1920

Collection Name

Roscoe Collection

Source

Format

Film Negative Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

This negative was kept in an envelope marked C30/261/ by the cataloguer. The envelope was kept in box marked C30/ by the cataloguer.
Previously stored on Shelf 4, in group of 4 wooden boxes numbered 180.

Publication: Image published in Roscoe, J., 1923. The Bakitara (or Banyoro): The First Part of the Report on The Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), p. 80, Plate X, with the caption: "Royal fetish worn by the king each morning when bathing.”
Similar images published in Roscoe, J., 1923, p. 80, with the caption: "Royal fetishes placed round the king when bathing” and p. 81, Plate XI, with the captions: "Royal fetishes used in cases of sickness and to avert evil” and "Small drums and fetishes used at the birth of twins.”
Similar image also published in Roscoe, J., 1922. The Soul of Central Africa: An Account of the Mackie Ethnological Expedition. (London: Cassell and Co.), p. 189, with the caption "Bunyoro Fetishes”. [ED 5/10/2007]

Context: "The King went to the royal bath-room to which were brought various fetishes. On entering he seated himself on a stool and took from a page a special fetish; having touched his forehead and each shoulder with this, he spat upon it, and, rising from the stool, went to the doorway to meet two young bulls. These animals were brought to the bath-room each morning and soon got to know what was required of them, coming of their own accord as soon as they were set free from the cattle-pens.” (Roscoe, J., 1923. The Bakitara (or Banyoro): The First Part of the Report of The Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), p. 93). [ED 5/10/2007]

Context: "Fetishes and Amulets: Fetishes were almost invariably horns of wild animals, buffalo-horns being the most venerated, though claws of large beasts of prey, such as lions, might also be used if the fetish was needed for wearing round the neck or under the arm, or for carrying on a shield. In the hollow of the horn or claw was put something prepared by the men who claimed to be the manufacturers of fetishes for the different gods. Thus two fetishes, outwardly the same, might be dedicated to quite different gods.
People carried fetishes about with them on certain occasions, using for this purpose small horns or claws, while each house possessed its large fetishes, some for guarding the household from dangers, while others belonged entirely to individuals. Though a fetish might fail its wearer in time of need, it was never admitted to be useless but the failure was explained by saying that some greater power, perhaps the fetish of a greater god, had been at work on that occasion.
Amulets took all kinds of forms, bits of roots of trees and herbs, sticks, or horns with powder in them, or shells and so on. They were frequently ornamented and worn as decorations, though originally their purpose was medicinal. They were usually bits of things which had been found useful in time of sickness and were worn to warn off any return of the sickness they had cured.” (Roscoe, J., 1923. The Bakitara (or Banyoro): The First Part of the Report of The Mackie Ethnological Expedition to Central Africa. (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press), p. 46). [ED 5/10/2007]

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Elisabeth Deane 5/10/2007]