African Fetishes - Fang Fetish 73

African Fetishes of the Fang people

An African "fetish" is an object seen as having supernatural power. The term "fetish" may derive from 18th century European colonizers who thought Africans paid excessive attention to the objects. Words like "idols" or "charms," better describe the purpose of these objects. This example, from the Fang people of Cameroon, Guinea, and Gabon measures 9 inches tall and is hand-crafted of wood and raffia fiber.