Juju Horn

This is a Nigerian ivory horn, originally described as a juju horn . Though it was made in Nigeria, it is included as it was originally collected by a member of Sierra Leone's Krio community, Archdeacon D. C. Crowther, son of Bishop Crowther, the first Anglican Bishop in Nigeria. From the mid-nineteenth century, Krio traders, missionaries and professionals settled along the coast of West Africa and in settlements on the Niger River. This Krio diaspora maintained close links with Sierra Leone through steam shipping lines, and objects from throughout the region found their way to Freetown where they were sometimes acquired by European collectors. Archdeacon D. C. Crowther led the Niger Delta Pastorate Mission at Bonny and became part of the independent African church movement in 1892. Crowther's original description reads This ivory horn is always blown in olden times at the juju skull house at Bonny (said to have been 150 years old) whenever the annual worship of Ikuber is on – it is never blown except when a human sacrifice is offered – This worship was abolished since 1865 when the mission was established at Bonny and this horn delivered up .

Further Information

  • Type: Religious/ritual equipment, charms
  • Object: Juju Horn
  • Materials: Bone, ivory, tooth
  • Culture Group: Other, Krio
  • Dimensions: 125 mm x 1030 mm
  • Production Date: Pre 1901
  • Associated Places: South Eastern Nigeria: Bonny (Collected and created)
  • Associated People: Rev. Archdeacon D.C. Crowther (Collector); A. Ridyard (Donor)
  • Museum: World Museum Liverpool Sierra Leone Collection
  • Accession Number: LIVCM.20.5.01.22