FETISH!

This page is a record of an exhibit that took place
in 2005. The individual links below will take you to
the CURRENT VERSION of the pages
that formed part of that exhibit.

October 15, 2005 - January 15, 2006

Please scroll down for links to images, sizes, prices and more information on each object featured in the current exhibit.

For those of you who cannot visit the gallery, we present some views of the current exhibition.

Click on a name below to see a catalog of images.

YAKA
Fetish
Figures 4

EWE
Fetish
Figures 1

FETISHES
Various
Tribes

BAULE Mbra
Monkey
Figures

FON
Bocchio
Posts 1

FON
Bocchio
Posts 2

BATEKE
Fetish
Figures 1

FETISHES
Various
Tribes

BATEKE
Fetish
Figures 2

FON
Fetish
Figures 1

GAN
Fetish
Figures

BAULE
Mbra
Monkeys

YAKA
Fetish
Figures 1

YAKA
Fetish
Figures 2

YAKA
Posts
Catalog

YAKA
Fetish
Figures 3

FETISHES
Various
Tribes

SONGYE
Power
Figures

SONGYE
Power
Figures 2

BAKONGO
Power
Figures 3

BAKONGO
Animal
Fetishes

BAMANA
Boli
Catalog

SONGYE
Figures
Catalog

BAKONGO
Power
Figures 3

A fetish is a statue or object with magical power, like an amulet, talisman or good luck charm. In traditional, tribal Africa, especially in Zaire, these beliefs are manifested in some of the most expressive and magical power figures ever created. This exhibit brings together the relics of many peoples, all used for specific functions, usually to conjure away evil spirits or attempt to control one's destiny.

Common to many tribes was the belief that the fetishes acquired power through the ritualistic carving and consecration, the addition of special substances and the recurring activation of its spirit by offering sacrifices and magic words. Some fetishes have the heads or stomachs hollowed out to hold special substances; some have mirrors to reflect back evil or to blind hostile spirits; some are Janus-figures for better vigilance and protection. Among the materials added to the wood figures are horns, shells, nails, feathers, mirrors, metal, twine, paint, cloth, raffia, fur, beads and herbs; anything thought to add power or magic.

If you are looking for a particular tribe or object please check our Indexes by Tribe, by Object
or by Material.

GO TO AFRICAN FETISHES PAGE

GO TO FETISHES (VARIOUS TRIBES) PAGE

GO TO AFRICAN ANIMALS PAGE

GO TO ARTIFACTS PAGE

GO TO AFRICAN FIGURES PAGE

GO TO MASKS AND HEADS PAGE

GO TO NEW ADDITIONS PAGE

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FETISH!

This page is a record of an exhibit that took place in 2005. The individual links below will take you to the CURRENT VERSION of the pages that formed part of that exhibit.

October 15, 2005 - January 15, 2006

Please scroll down for links to images, sizes, prices and more information on each object featured in the current exhibit.

This page is a record of an exhibit that took place
in 2005. The individual links below will take you to
the CURRENT VERSION of the pages
that formed part of that exhibit.