Reliquary OuidahVodou FÉTICHE in Ash

Reproduction Clay African Vodou fetiche figure with simulated ash, made with cotton, burlap, jute, caracols.

Approximately 7" x 2"

Note: Fetishes are made with intent for protection, and have ashe'. They are not "charged" other than this.

Images are examples of past commissions. You will receive a similar fetish. No two are alike, making them unique in their own way.


ABOUT

Benin formerly known as Dahomey sat in the gulf of Guinea hemmed in by the might of Nigeria on its Eastern flank and Togo to the West, with the warm waters of the Atlantic Ocean lapping along its palm fringed beaches. This former French colony is rich in colonial history; home to the “Slave Coast” of Ouidah, and the spiritual birthplace of Voodoo.

Vodun considers all of creation divine, which explains the use of herbal medicines and everday objects in rituals. Talismans known as ‘fetishes’ are believed to hold spirits. The fetishes themselves may be statues or dried human/animal parts. The spirits within each fetish are believed to perform tasks according to their capacity. The hierarchy of the sacred ranges from vodun divinities who control nature, to the spirits of streams, trees and nature, to certain members of a clan, tribe or nation.

West African Vodun is far removed from the mystical—and often negative—idea of voodoo that cinema and pop culture have disseminated, especially the trope of sticking needles into dolls linked to human victims. The various traditions you will find in Benin were carried over to North America and Caribbean countries during the African slave trade, where a Creole form of voodoo, combining African, Caribbean, Catholic and Native American traditions, can be found today. To reaffirm the place of vodun in Benin’s national identity after colonialism, Ouidah has held an International Vodun Conference every year since 1991

Power fetishes are typically carved wooden figures of human beings and animals, originating from in the interior and the west Congo coast region. Commonly grouped under the name of fetishes. This term, anglicized from a Portuguese word which was early applied in this sense, meant originally an amulet or charm. It has since been used to denote a wide variety of magical and religious objects, and fetishism.



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