Collections

The Science Museum has a permanent display on the 5th floor relating to the practice of traditional medicines. One section deals with aspects of traditional African medicine.  Objects on show come from groups across Africa - including the Ashante in Ghana, the Yoruba people of Nigeria as well as Congolese and Tanzanian artefacts. Some objects centre on divination. They include a carved wooden adjella ifa (Ifa ritual bowl) divination bowl used as an oracle. It is in the form of a kneeling woman with child on her back, along with a large bowl in form of a hen, detachable lid. Palm nuts used by Yoruba diviners are stored in this bowl. It's dated 1880-1920.

There's also a medicine man's bag with objects for divination, containing 30 animal vertebrae, 2 pebbles, 1 hoof, two pieces of carved bone, one nut shell, dated 1880-1930. There are also divination plaques - including one made from hide, with 2 bells, by Baganda tribe, Uganda, 1880–1920. Some objects relate to the dress of the healer, including a healer's circlet decorated with amulets, and red and blue beads with cowrie shells, front has fringe of pendant beads - possibly from East Africa, 1850-1930.

There's also a variety of medicines - some are jars of seeds and leaves from Africa with medicinal properties such as Buchu leaf and stophanthus seed. Later artefacts include a pot of Aroma Dough, containing a blend of fynbos essential oils from plants used in African medicine for their healing properties. It was made in Cape Town, South Africa, 2004-2005.

Others relate to personal protection and 'nkisi' force. One piece is a nail-studded wooden container for nkisi force, carved into the shape of a man with one arm raised, chin thrust forward, body covered with nails. He has a mirror container as the front of his body and is wearing dark blue headband, collar and loin cloth. This image was made by Bakongo people, probably Mayombe tribe, Congo, 1880-1920. There are also three handwritten paper talisman (personal charm) with cabbalistic designs, found by Sir Robert Baden-Powell during English Expedition amongst the Ashanti people in Ghana in 1895.

The forty or so objects on display reveal a diversity of approaches and traditions over time, along with a description of traditional African approaches to illness and its cure.