Voodoo doll

David · 15th November 2008, 10:13 PM

Well "Voodoo dolls" as they are most usually thought of, sticking in pins to bring pain and misfortune to another, do not exist. They are merely Hollywood myth.
The idea for them probably comes from the "minkisi", nail fetishes from the area of the Congo. If your friend is looking for a true ethnographic artifact this might be it. If he is looking for some pin-sticking Hollywood stereotype he is out of luck.

http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN

stekemest · 16th November 2008, 12:04 AM

Thank you David, I'll tell him.

He is looking for a gift for his father who has done many travels throughout his life and collected pieces from all over the world. He thought an authentic "voodoo doll" would fit to his "collection". I'm sure such a "minkisi" will do as well.

Peter

Dajak · 16th November 2008, 12:59 AM

Hi David why you think Voodoo Dolls don t exist ??

Ben

David · 16th November 2008, 02:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dajak

Hi David why you think Voodoo Dolls don t exist ??

Well Ben, because i know a fair bit about the Vodoun religion, having many close friends who are actual initiates, and it is not a part of the religion, merely a Hollywood stereotype.

VVV · 16th November 2008, 02:49 PM

David and Ben,

I don't know much about Vodoun religion but I have seen dolls like that used in Malaysia (in Gimlette and Skeat there are pictures of them).
And based on classical works on magic they seem to exist all over the world.

Michael

David · 16th November 2008, 05:40 PM

Yes Michael, dolls that are used in sympathetic magic do indeed exist all over the world in many cultures. However, they do not seem to exist as such in the Vodoun practices either in Africa or Haiti. Dolls do show up in New Orleans Voodoo a bit, but they are not the Hollywood sterotype "Voodoo doll" that you stick pins in to do harm with. This is usually what people mean when they bring up "Voodoo dolls". This is a Hollywood fabrication.

Freddy · 16th November 2008, 05:43 PM

Peter,

You will find African fetish statues in many different styles. Mostly, people think of the 'nail-covered' statues of the Kongo-tribe in Congo, like the one David showed.

But there are many other 'forms'.

Here is one of my collection. It comes from West-Africa. More exactly the Benin/Nigeria border region. It's a power statue of the Nago-tribe.

To this piece some ironwork was added to its head. If I'm correct, this has something to do with the god of thunder.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...man/f234vs.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...man/f234ks.jpg

Tim Simmons · 16th November 2008, 06:23 PM

Cameroon/Gabon. Beautiful woven cloths. So dynamic.

15th November 2008, 10:13 PM	#1
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,227	Well "Voodoo dolls" as they are most usually thought of, sticking in pins to bring pain and misfortune to another, do not exist. They are merely Hollywood myth. The idea for them probably comes from the "minkisi", nail fetishes from the area of the Congo. If your friend is looking for a true ethnographic artifact this might be it. If he is looking for some pin-sticking Hollywood stereotype he is out of luck. http://images.google.com/imgres?imgu...%3Den%26sa%3DN Attached Images

16th November 2008, 06:23 PM	#8
Tim Simmons Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: What is still UK Posts: 5,875	Cameroon/Gabon. Beautiful woven cloths. So dynamic. Attached Images

16th November 2008, 12:04 AM	#2
stekemest Member Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Heidelberg, Germany Posts: 183	Thank you David, I'll tell him. He is looking for a gift for his father who has done many travels throughout his life and collected pieces from all over the world. He thought an authentic "voodoo doll" would fit to his "collection". I'm sure such a "minkisi" will do as well. Peter

16th November 2008, 12:59 AM	#3
Dajak Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Posts: 951	Hi David why you think Voodoo Dolls don t exist ?? Ben

16th November 2008, 02:49 PM	#5
VVV Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sweden Posts: 1,637	David and Ben, I don't know much about Vodoun religion but I have seen dolls like that used in Malaysia (in Gimlette and Skeat there are pictures of them). And based on classical works on magic they seem to exist all over the world. Michael

16th November 2008, 05:40 PM	#6
David Keris forum moderator Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Nova Scotia Posts: 7,227	Yes Michael, dolls that are used in sympathetic magic do indeed exist all over the world in many cultures. However, they do not seem to exist as such in the Vodoun practices either in Africa or Haiti. Dolls do show up in New Orleans Voodoo a bit, but they are not the Hollywood sterotype "Voodoo doll" that you stick pins in to do harm with. This is usually what people mean when they bring up "Voodoo dolls". This is a Hollywood fabrication.

16th November 2008, 05:43 PM	#7
Freddy Member Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Sint-Amandsberg (near Ghent, Belgium) Posts: 830	Peter, You will find African fetish statues in many different styles. Mostly, people think of the 'nail-covered' statues of the Kongo-tribe in Congo, like the one David showed. But there are many other 'forms'. Here is one of my collection. It comes from West-Africa. More exactly the Benin/Nigeria border region. It's a power statue of the Nago-tribe. To this piece some ironwork was added to its head. If I'm correct, this has something to do with the god of thunder. http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...man/f234vs.jpg http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v1...man/f234ks.jpg