In Durban and also in Johannesburg, I visited what we called a witch doctor's shop. I'm not sure that's an accurate description, but in both cases the proprietor sold remedies and potions made from both plant and animal products, which were supposed to cure ailments, bring you good health, good luck, break spells, etc.
Here's are a couple of snapshots I took in the Durban shop.
Note the cash register on the left. And in the photo below, the cashier is ready to ring up the purchase. What was the purchase? Well, there were lots of exciting things we could have bought, but we were very young with little money to spend. About the only thing we could afford was a dung ball. Yep, that's one of those cute little spherical balls of elephant dung rolled by a dung beetle. Our instructions were to pinch off part of the ball, roll it into a little wick, attach it to the top of the ball and light it for good luck. It's hard to say if it worked or not.
On another occasion, a friend of mine went to a witch doctor's shop in Johannesburg to buy some 'love potion' for a friend in the United States. The doctor took one look at him and said, "Oh, love potion...for you? Extra Strong!" I guess he thought my skinny white friend needed a lot of help. When my friend returned to the United States, he gave the potion to the woman who had requested it. The tiny bottle sat on her shelf for several years unopened, until one day she decided to dab some on before going to a party. She didn't break out in a rash, which is what I would have expected, but she did meet the man she would later marry at that party. A coincidence, no doubt, but it made for a good story.
If you'd like to learn more about the dung beetle (and who doesn't?), you can watch them in action on this National Geographic Video.
Be sure to check out Sepia Saturday this week too...no dung at all there.
Very cool story and blogpost...:) Dung, huh?
ReplyDeleteThe best part of the postcard is the toddler. The cash register is so well camouflaged that I was wondering at first where the photo of the shop was!
ReplyDeleteExtraordinary! I presume the foliage on the walls is the stock?
ReplyDeleteDung and dung beetles - essential parts of the environment. Someone was brave with that love potion.
ReplyDeleteThose photos are just crazy....it looks like the shop is being reclaimed by nature!
ReplyDeleteWhat's the boat full of? I guess the witch doctors are the equivalent of those who email us offering wonderful pharmaceutical remedies nowadays :-) although without the atmosphere of a shop full of moss, twigs, leaves and herbs and a genial proprietor :-) Jo
ReplyDeleteThey call witch doctors herbalists in this country.
ReplyDeleteHi Sheila,
ReplyDeleteI hesitated to call him an herbalist, because of the number of products that are animal based, bones etc.
Can you imagine being in that shop all day breathing in the variety of herbal particles? It's fascinating that it's hanging loose unlike the Chinese herbalists that have everything in jars and little drawers.
ReplyDeleteI'm wondering if that is just a wall of rocks in Durbin or plants. I imagine in color it was a lot more effective than the sepia color.
A great little story there. At least one did not have to partake and digest any of the dung ball!
ReplyDeleteGreat tale - and for me quite a topical one. The Lad arrived back from deepest Africa last week with a bag full of some strange petals which he boiled to give some kind of drink. He claims it is refreshing - I try and stay well clear of it.
ReplyDeleteNow this is a shop! How cool. I love the story too, about Love Potion #9 (or whatever your friend's lucky number is). I didn't know you could wear such things as perfume; I always thought that you would have to drink it or something, lol.
ReplyDeleteHope your week is wonderful,
Kathy M.
WOW Christine!
ReplyDeleteI love your old pictures of vintage Africa. How cool is it that you got to visit such a special place! Now I'm jealous (LOL):~))
I've visited Durban too, and it indeed a far cry from that early 20th Century postcard. Did you go to the Asian market? And did you get a ride on those wild ricksaws?
ReplyDeleterickshaws, I meant to say
ReplyDeleteThose last two photos are fascinating. I can’t say I’d be drawn to making a purchase though. I was visiting a witch doctor myself for a spell (sorry I do like the one-liners!)
ReplyDeleteToo bad the internet doesn't allow us (yet) to transmit odors and scents! A fun story with photos.
ReplyDelete