Browse dictionary
Showing 1-20 of 25 results in 25 entries
1. Alhaji, n. View full entry 1951
...In Nigeria and other areas of West Africa: = Al-Hajj1....
2. baloi, n. View full entry 1871
...In southern Africa (in Sotho and Tswana society): practitioners of magic or witchcraft. Cf. moloi...
3. greegree, n. View full entry 1698
...An African charm, amulet, or fetish....
4. inyanga, n. View full entry 1826
...A medicine-man (see also quot. 1826)....
5. ju-ju | juju, n.1 View full entry 1894
...An object of any kind superstitiously venerated by West African native peoples, and used as a charm, amulet, or means of protection; a fetish. Also, the supernatural or magical power attributed to...
6. lau, n. View full entry 1923
...An African water monster supposed to live in the swamps of the Nile valley....
7. mafufunyana, n. View full entry 1952
...An emotional disorder, characterized by hysteria and hallucinations and often believed to be caused by witchcraft....
8. malombo, n. View full entry 1931
...A Venda rite of exorcism and healing conducted by a diviner, accompanied by drumming, singing, and dancing, which causes a high state of nervous excitement. Usu. attrib....
9. Mlimo, n. View full entry 1896
...A prophet, holy man; = Umlimorare....
10. moruti, n. View full entry 1866
...In Southern Africa (esp. among Southern Sotho, Northern Sotho, and Tswana speakers): a teacher, missionary, or minister of religion. Cf. umfundisi...
11. muti, n. View full entry 1858
...A tree. Obs.rare....
12. ngoma, n. View full entry 1860
...In eastern and southern Africa: any of various kinds of drum; (S. Afr.) a large single-headed drum of a type traditionally used by the Venda in certain religious ceremonies....
13. nomoli, n. View full entry 1905
...A small soapstone figure of a human or animal of a type found in Sierra Leone, thought by the Mande to possess supernatural powers....
14. obeah, adj. and n. View full entry 1710-12
...Designating a person or thing involved in or associated with the practice of a kind of sorcery, witchcraft, or folk medicine originating in West Africa and mainly practised in the English-speaking areas...
15. obosom, n. View full entry 1853
...Any of various minor gods or spirits in the religious system of the Akan peoples of Ghana....
16. sande, n. View full entry 1803
...The name of a cult for women based on secret rites of initiation, etc., widespread amongst tribes in Sierra Leone and Liberia. See also Poro...
17. sangoma, n. View full entry 1893
...In Southern Africa, a witchdoctor, usu. a woman, claiming supernatural powers of divination and healing....
18. saphie, n. View full entry 1799
...A charm....
19. tokoloshe, n. View full entry 1833
...In African folklore, a mischievous and lascivious hairy dwarf....
20. umfundisi, n. View full entry 1825
...A teacher, a minister, a missionary; also used as a respectful form of address....
