Javelin

37-22-12

From: Sierra Leone | Sherbro Island | Yoni

Curatorial Section: African

Object Number 37-22-12
Current Location Collections Storage
Culture Sherbro
Provenience Sierra Leone | Sherbro Island | Yoni
Section African
Materials Copper
Description

Made of copper. Long slender head, shaft in rectangular section, ferrule flat, with deep notch in base. The bal is carried when traveling to protect oneself from the attacks of men or of animals, especially snakes. It is usually made the object of a saka or sara, sacrifice with incantation by a medicine man, and is then supposed to afford magical protection from all dangers of the road and to be "lucky" in general. See 37-22-13 to 20.

Length 80 cm
Credit Line Expedition to Sierra Leone, West Africa; Henry Usher Hall, 1937
Other Number 74 - Collector Number

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