Acquired in South Africa 1992 Ian & Julie Allen.
Beaded dolls are used for many purposes in traditional
African societies & are made in a variety of styles. Dolls
play a role in fertility, healing, courtship and play rituals.
PLAY- Dolls are used by young girls for play. The Sangoma healer was also scary looking to children, so they would get given a Songoma doll to play with so they would be familiar, and not be scared should they ever need to see a Sangoma
COURTSHIP - Older girls at the courtship age, would
make a beaded doll and give it to a young man as a
symbol of her love. Although the young man accepted the
doll, he would accept dolls from other admires, until he
decided on who he wanted to pledge himself to.
FERTILITY - If an older woman wanted a baby, she would
often make a doll and place it by her bed as a good luck
symbol.
HEALING - Dolls were used as a vehicle for absent healing. The patient at home can send her doll to the
traditional healer and by transmission may be healed. .
H: 4” x Diam: 3/8”
