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Artefacts, early 20th century, 1960s

 Series — Box: CLX-A-33
Identifier: Coll-490/AR

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

This series contains a Witch Doctor outfit and other African artefacts bequeathed by Douglas James Guthrie to George Shepperson at his death in 1975, and sent to Shepperson by Douglas's wife Jean in 1976. Includes labels by Douglas Guthrie.

  1. Kiondo. Woven baskets made of fibre from the migio plant by Kikuyu woman at Weithaga, Kenya. One small and one large basket.
  2. "Bones" (in wood) used in divining by witch doctor near Bulawayo, Rhodesia.
  3. Bracelet worn by a witch doctor who died in Bulawayo in 1924. Note by Guthrie "Given to me by Mr [D]immers [?] at Bulawayo in 1957".
  4. Dagger [in its sheath] worn on upper arm in Sudan.
  5. Mbugi, or Goat bell, made by blacksmith (Kikuyu) at Weithaga, Kenya, sold for 2/-.
  6. Castanets from Rhino Camp, Upper Nile (in Uganda). Obtained in exchange for safety pins. March, 1951.
  7. Blade.
  8. Flywhisk (a symbol of power) [Penalty for possession – 22 years hard labour under Banda's government].
  9. Unlabelled object made of horn [?].

Also includes a badge of Hastings Banda, "Given to me [Douglas Guthrie] by O. Chirwa from Aleke Banda. September 1960", and newspaper clipping showing Hastings Banda wielding the flywhisk at the official opening of the Malawi Museum in Blantyre, July 1966.

Dates

  • Creation: early 20th century
  • Creation: 1960s

Creator

Language of Materials

Labels in English

Conditions Governing Access

Handling training will be required before consulting these artefacts. Please contact the repository in advance.

Full Extent

1 box : 10 items

Additional Description

Related Materials

At Coll-490/Phot, no. 7, there are the correspondence and photographs sent by Douglas Guthrie and later his wife Jean Guthrie to George Shepperson, relating to Guthrie's time in Africa, and to the artefacts.

Related Names

Subjects

Physical Storage Information

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections Repository

https://library.ed.ac.uk/heritage-collections
Contact:
Centre for Research Collections
University of Edinburgh Main Library
George Square
Edinburgh EH8 9LJ Scotland
+44(0)131 650 8379