Calabash

Calabash rattle, Nigeria, 1851-1920 von Science Museum, London - Wellcome Collection, United Kingdom - CC BY.

Origin: Yoruba people of Nigeria, West Africa

Materials: Club-shaped rattle made from a gourd called a calabash, and has cloth, shells, wood and metal stitched on to the surface.

Family: The priest would go into a trance-like state and, using the rattle to communicate with Shango, receive recipes for medical treatments.

Use: Used by a priest of the Shango cult, god of thunder who is worshipped as a healing god.

Social context: Treatment of the sick and diseased involved the whole community rather than just the individual.

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