Ife princess head Yoruba, Nigeria

Vodun Bo to stop someone speaking bad about others Mono region, Benin

This was placed in front of a door of the guilty person, and when he sees it he will not be able to speak but just quack like a duck.

Ewe twin altar Togo

Twin figures are about 20 cm high. These small figures are spirit dolls that carry the soul of a dead twin.

Vodun skull bowl Fon ethnic, Benin

Palo Naganga cauldron used in magic Palo ceremonies Havanna, Cuba

Vodun bocio Fon ethnic group / Abomey, Benin

Cio means the body and bo means the power applied. These object can be used for good or bad.

Vodun telephone bocio Mono region, Benin

Used when you need a very quick connection to the gods.

Mami Wata shrine Artist Ismaila Putuenchi from Foumban, Cameroon

The shrine has 100 small Mami Wata figures on it.

Magic vodun bottle Mono region, Benin

Putchu Guindji Talisman Ethnic Kotoko / Cameroon

Kotoko Warriors / Horsemen are used as talismans against madness and witchcraft by the Kotoko people in Cameroon and Chad.

Chong friction drum Oku, Cameroon

By rubbing the bamboo pole in the center of the drum it makes a eerie sound. The Chong secret society uses these drums at night to call the spirits.

Oku healing jug to cure witchcraft Oku ethnic group, Cameroon

The jug is filled with magic plants and the head of the patient is put into the jug to withdraw the witchcraft.

Azeto vodun witch healing bottle Dotou, Benin

Vodun sorcery shrine Mono region, Benin

Age vodun god of agriculture and healing plants Mono region, Benin

Kokou power vodun bottle Adja ethnic group, Benin

The bottle is filled with Sodabi, a palm liquor. Adepts drink from this bottle to gain power.

Haitian vodou bottle for Erzulie Freda (a Haitian vodou spirit) Haiti

Kokou power vodun bottle Adja ethnic Group, Benin

The bottle is filled with Sodabi, a palm liquor. Adepts drink from this bottle to gain power.

Vodun conjuring horn Mono region, Benin

Medicine vodun bocio Fon ethnic, Abomey, Benin

Bocio is used for healing

Vodun bocio power figure Fon ethnic Group, Abomey, Benin

Mami Wata Volta Region, Ghana

Mami Wata sitting on a stool

Egungun the spirits of the dead Yoruba ethnic group, Nigeria and Benin.

Mami Wata altar Dotou, Benin

The altar is about 3 meter wide. The figures on the altar all appeared in dreams of the Vodun priest Djale who then told his carvers what he dreamt. There are 41 Tohoussou water spirits beside Mami Wata on the altar. On the floor are different terracotta figures made by Sowanou Ambede and bronze statues made by Ismaila Putuenchi. Offerings for Mami Wata are in a very old turtle shell.

Kheghebcio witch hunter Oku, Cameroon

Kheghebcio belongs to the Ngang secret medicine society. He looks for witches and the unruly dead. A much feared society in Oku.

The muslim vodun spirits Benin and Togo

Zombie bottle Haiti

Legba, Sakpata and a hyena Fon ethnic, Benin

Two vodun gods and a witch animal Legba 1 meter high, Sakpata 70 cm high

Painting by Cyprien Tokoudagba, Aziza the vodun god of the forest Abomey, Benin

Oro secret society drum Yoruba, Benin

Oro is a Yoruba secret society.

Vodun god Legba Fon ethnic group, Abomey, Benin

Vodun god Legba, the trickster, heavenly messenger and guardian of the crossroads

Yoruba door from a Dan snake temple Yoruba ethnic, Nigeria

Amazon skull on a male body to protect a Nago village from Amazon raids Nago ethnic

Vodun asens from Abomey, Benin

Ancestor asen Ethnic Fon, Anomey, Benin

Asens a memorial for a dead ancestor, and tell the story of the ancestor. This asen shows the ancestor sitting on a stool and on each side is a wife. They are holding a rope to symbolize that his wives should keep the family together after his death. The airplane he is sending to Haiti to pick up the souls of family member that were enslaved and should be flown back through the gate to mother Africa.

Bulu oracle basket Cameroon

Egungun oracle skull Yoruba, Benin