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.

YAKA Fetish Figures 4

YAKA Fetish Figures 4

EWE Fetish Figures 1

EWE Fetish Figures 1

FETISHES Various Tribes

FON Bocchio Posts 1

FON Bocchio Posts 1

FON Bocchio Posts 2

FON Bocchio Posts 2

SONGYE Figures 2 Catalog

SONGYE Figures Catalog

BAKONGO Power Figures 3

BAKONGO Power Figures 3

BATEKE Fetish Figures 1

BATEKE Fetish Figures 1

FETISHES Various Tribes

BATEKE Fetish Figures 2

BATEKE Fetish Figures 2

FON Fetish Figures 1

FON Fetish Figures 1

GAN Fetish Figures

GAN Fetish Figures

BAULE Mbra Monkeys

YAKA Fetish Figures 1

YAKA Fetish Figures 1

YAKA Fetish Figures 2

YAKA Fetish Figures 2

YAKA Posts Catalog

YAKA Fetish Figures 3

EWE Fetish Figures 1

EWE Fetish Archives

TOMA Fetish Objects

KISSI Fetish Objects

FETISHES Various Tribes

FETISHES Various Tribes

FETISHES Various Tribes

FETISHES Various Tribes

FETISHES Various Tribes

FETISHES Various Tribes

FETISHES Various Tribes

BAKONGO Animal Fetishes

BAMANA Boli Catalog

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.

Old fetishes are very rare. Despite their appearance, most of these fetishes show no evidence of age or use and were probably made to be sold.

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.