Identifier: fetichisminwesta00nassuoft (find matches)
Title: Fetichism in West Africa; forty years' observation of native customs and superstitions
Year: 1904 (1900s)
Authors: Nassau, Robert H. (Robert Hamill), 1835-1912
Subjects: Fetishism Ethnology -- Africa, West
Publisher: New York : Young People's Missionary Movement
Contributing Library: Robarts - University of Toronto
Digitizing Sponsor: MSN

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aracter of the disease. These are Nkinda, Ombwiri, andOlaga. It is clear that these, as explained in a previous chapter,are names of spirits, but the same names (as in the case ofother fetich mixtures) are given to the medicines in whosepreparation they are invoked. But my informants differedin their opinions whether these names indicate different kindsof spirits, or only a difference in the functions or works doneby them. One very intelligent and prominent native at firstseemed uncertain, but subsequently said that Nki.ida in-dicated the spirits of the common dead; Ombwiri thespirits of distinguished dead, kings, and other prominentmen; and Olaga, a higher class, who had been admitted toan angelic position in the spirit-world. All, however, as-serted that all these are spirits of former human beings.Which kind shall be invoked depends on the doctorsdiagnosis of the disease. Take the case of some one who has been sick with anobscure disease that has not yielded to ordinary medication:
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o M THE FETICH IN DAILY LIFE 183 the doctor begins his incantations with drum and dance andsong. This is sometimes kept up all night, and in minorcases the patient is required to join in these ceremonies.But in the more mystic Nkinda, Ombwiri, and OlSga the sickperson sits still, being required to do so as a part of thediagnosis. For if after a while the patient shall begin tonod his head violently, it is a sign that a spirit of some oneof these three classes has taken possession of him. Thedoctor then takes him to a secret place in the forest, andasks the spirit what kind it is, and what the nature of thedisease. The reply, though made by the patient, is not sup-posed to be his, but the spirits who is using his mouth. Reallythe sick, dazed, submissive patient does not know what he issaying. After this diagnosis the doctor goes to seek plantssuitable for the disease. By chance the patient may recover.If he does not, the doctor asserts that the spirit had misin-formed him, and the cere

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