Medicine Horns

This is a necklet of made from three horns, containing magical substances, herbs, or medicines. Two of the horns have been joined by wound leather. The item is thought to have been used by the Tongo Players, a name given to a group of professional witch finders who were called in to investigate and detect members of the Leopard Society, blamed for a series of murders in Imperri chiefdom in the early 1890s. All Tongo activity was later banned by the British Colonial Government.

Further Information

Type: Religious/ritual equipment, charms
Object: Medicine Horns
Materials: Feather, fur, hair, horn, Vegetable, organic fibre
Culture Group: Mende
Dimensions: 190mm
Production Date: Pre 1910
Associated Places: Sierra Leone: Sherbro District (Created and collected)
Associated People: L. Probyn (Donor); G. W. Page (Collector)
Museum: World Museum Liverpool Sierra Leone Collection
Accession Number: LIVCM.17.12.10.33