Pair of fetishes

In the Dogon, there is a group of people who deal with healing. Before a cure can be applied, the cause of the illness must be known, which is always determined by the fortune-teller. According to the Dogon, an illness is most often caused by the violation of some prohibition issued by ancestors or supernatural beings. A person skilled in the traditional treatment of the diodiougunon (a witch doctor) bases his knowledge on the classification of plants that are associated with different parts of the body. Plants form the basic basis for the production of medicines. The quacks are reluctant to talk about their medicines, as they believe that keeping the ingredients secret increases their effectiveness. They make remedies for headaches, toothaches, malaria and diarrhoea. They can also prepare effective amulets to protect against snake and scorpion bites. Apothecaries are well known among the Dogon, but their popularity is probably due to economic reasons. Their treatment is definitely cheaper than the services of educated doctors or nurses. The basis of the Dogon pharmacy are plants, sometimes animal remains and minerals are also used. An important supplement to such medicines is the secret texts recited during their production, as well as the patient's belief in the supernatural powers of the witch doctor. Traditional medicines and pharmaceuticals are most easily purchased from traders with stalls at markets or in door-to-door trade.In addition to witch doctors, there are also marabouts who use the Koran for treatment. They usually recommend verses from the Koran for various ailments. They write them on wooden tablets and then wash the text with water, which they recommend the patient to drink. The whole treatment is completed with a blessing.

Ewa Prądzyńska