1970 – Charm bag: Amulet

Physical description:

Small, squarish charm bag made of black leather and attached to a bangle made of some kind of flexible substance like bamboo. The bag is stitched closed, contents unknown. A good luck charm made by a Sudanese tribal 'witch doctor'.

Museum classification:

Spells and Charms

Size:

Bag 60 x 50 x 5; bangle 85 diam.

Information:

The anonymous donor writes: 'I acquired it from an elderly gentleman who passed away recently. As far as I can ascertain it dates back to the 1950s or 1960s. The owner travelled the world extensively, collecting many different sorts of objects. This one I believe is African in origin. It was given to him while out on a hunting trip in Sudan. He got it from a tribal witch doctor who said that it was a good luck charm of some sort.'

Amulets very similar in appearance to this one, and which contain a paper with verses from the Qur'an written on it, are worn in Senegal, particularly as part of the elaborate pre-match rituals used by wrestlers in Senegal's massively popular wrestling culture. See the Channel 4 'Unreported World' programme 'Africa's Superstar Gladiators', presented by Seyi Rhodes, broadcast 5th May 2017. These Islamic amulets are combined with the use of magical potions (which the wrestlers pour over themselves) and ritual dances, designed to make contact with, and invoke the help of, spirits. The wrestlers do not see any conflict between the Islamic part of their beliefs and these more shamanic aspects - on the contrary they are proud of the fact that they are upholding their ancient spiritual traditions.

This kind of amulet is often called a Taweez.