Elderly Mbeere Man by Joy AdamsonNational Museums of Kenya
Meet the Mbeere
The Mbeere community reside on the southeastern area of Mount Kenya. Traditionally they believed in the existence of the supernatural, and relied on diviners, healers and medicine men for protection.
Ear PlugNational Museums of Kenya
Magic, mysticism, and mayhem
Sorcerers (mrogi) were believed to cause mayhem and illness through curses or magical activities, and were generally feared. Occasionally, a prophet (mrathi) would emerge with the power to foretell events.
Python SkinNational Museums of Kenya
Medicine men
A python snake was placed above the door of a medicine man's house, indicating his status as someone powerful and dangerous. The primary apparatus of the medicine men consisted of a series of gourds, animal horns and charms.
Medicinal PowderNational Museums of Kenya
The medicine man would use trees (roots, leaves, barks, stem or fruits), herbs, animal products (fur or animal fat) and geological materials (soils and rocks). The herbs were normally boiled, sap extracted, burnt into ash, ground into powder, or chewed in its raw form.
GourdNational Museums of Kenya
This decorated gourd contains white powder (ira) that was used in the past to cure illnesses. The gourd was cut from a plant and the stopper made from a twig by the medicine woman.
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