A Search For the Heart of West Africa 5

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Almamy & I returned to the Medina Fetish Market on Sunday morning.  Note my earlier related entries at Heart1 Heart2 Heart3 Heart4.  The aim is to survey the products being sold   -- what each is, and how it is used -- as a way to reveal the underlying, core beliefs associated with this region of Africa.  Here is a description of the items collected:

Photo1:  Shows some of the products at the market in bags, corresponding to photos 11-14.

Photo 2:  (top) hyaena paw, used to attract respect, as in one's home;  bottom left to right:  unspecified bird feet, promoting learning, recommended for the classroom;  cobra head, used to offer protection from attack;  peacock foot, used to ward off pickpocketing;  jackal paw, promoting intelligence and understanding;  leopard paw, used to promote loyalty.

Photo 3:  (top) used in the treatment of a specific rash;  (left pair) used specifically in the treatment of diabetes (strips from each are taken, washed, that water disposed of, then boiled in water, soaked overnight, then used to make coffee, drunk x 3/day);  (right pair) used specificaly for the treatment of a childhood disease, the symptoms being a thin frame and a swelled belly.

Photo 4:  these two sea shells and turtle shell are used as container only, and contain no magical properties as such.  Horns are also commonly used as containers.

Photo 5:  (top) appears to be a chunk of tree sap, used specifically by the marabout to attract as an incense to attract jinn;  (bottom) a porcupine stomach, is boiled and drunk to protect oneself from bad potions.

Photo 6:   incense mix, wards off jinn.

Photo 7:  (top) vultures are thought to live a long time;  this vulture died of old age, and was found lying on it side (the opposite side of the skull shows greater decay, with bones exposed);  the properties of long life are thus conveyed to one's business and financial investments;  (middle, bottom) the powder is meant to be mixed with the crocodile skull;  the vendor offered to have the two sewn-up for me in a leather pouch.

Photo 8:  (top) boil, ablution, protection from bad talk;  (bottom) cotton plant leaves, boiled, water added to coffee, drunk three times/day.

Photo 9:  (left) a grass, used to attract good fortune, can be soaked and the water used in ablution, or packaged as is;  (center) used for the treatment of sexually-transmitted disease;  (right) used specifically in the treatment of irregular menstruation.

Photo 10:  mix, A. has used, attracts good fortune, used in form of tea.

Photo 11:  this mixture of two things (10 + 17 from my notes) is a love potion, makes one attractive.

Photo 12:  (top-right) good if added to milk powder, similar properties to viagra;  (top-left) used in the treatment of breathing/cough-related issues, applied as incense;  (bottom-left) used in the treatment of River Blindness, helps one to see clearly, add to water, strain liquid, use on face;  (bottom-right) used in the treatment of injured ligaments, such as arthritis, sports-related injuries, applied directly to the surface of the afflicted area.

Photo 13:  (left) mixture of three things (2+3+6 from my notes), used to attract good fortune;  (right) used for treatment of headaches.

Photo 14:  (left) to be add to millet or tamarin, used for the treatment of sexually transmitted disease;  (top-right) a mixture of two things (1+5 from my notes), used to ward off evil; (bottom-right) used to dispel bad dreams.

These items are used in one of several ways:  packaged as is, boiled and drank as a tea, soaked or boiled and the water used in ablution, or with which to wash oneself, taken directly by mouth, or applied topically.

An English-speaking vendor explained that these products represent the natural ingredients containing the same medicinal properties as our Western medicine, simply packaged differently.  

Such vendors sold the raw materials used both by marabouts (who would inflate the price) and the individual buyer.  Consulting a marabout offered privacy and anonymity that was not possible out on the street.

He explained that an evil-doer, bent on messing with an annoying neighbor, might concoct a potion, and leave it outside their door, or a public area frequented by the hapless victim.  Such curses were characterized as a communicable disease:  whomever stumbled into it became afflicted.

Note an extended audio conversation between a vendor, A. and myself on BOT.