• The Magic Symbol Repertoire of Talismanic Rings from East and West Africa

    Author(s):
    Lloyd Graham (see profile)
    Date:
    2020
    Group(s):
    Islamicate Studies
    Subject(s):
    Magic, Magic--Religious aspects, Religions, Africans--Religion, Africa, Area studies, Islam--Study and teaching
    Item Type:
    Article
    Tag(s):
    Tuareg, Tifinagh, Ethiopia, talisman, Jewelry, Magico-religious systems, African religions, African studies, Islamic studies
    Permanent URL:
    http://dx.doi.org/10.17613/cjpq-p240
    Abstract:
    In West Africa, Berber groups such as the Tuareg use inscribed silver jewelry – rings, pendants and plaques – as talismans. A ring with a curved or flat frontal area may be inscribed with a linear cipher or, if large, carry a “magic square” design. A survey of 132 Tuareg/Berber items revealed that the symbol repertoire appears to be drawn from overlapping categories that include Eastern Arabic and Perso-Arabic numerals; Arabic letters; Tifinagh and Libyco-Berber characters; and the Islamic Seven Seals. Most items combine symbols of different types, and reflections and rotations are common. The magic squares sometimes display symmetry, with diagonals containing repeats of a single symbol. No two designs were identical, but it was possible to define sub-groups. With numerical considerations seemingly secondary to aesthetics, none of the magic squares were mathematically competent. Tuareg gri gri plaques and rings also carry magic square designs, but seem to contain mainly Tifinagh letters. Cryptic apotropaic rings are also found in East Africa. In Ethiopia, especially among the Oromo, smiths inscribe metal rings with talismanic symbols. The symbols are typically arranged evenly around the ring band; there are usually two circular series. The Ethiopian symbol repertoire appears to be drawn from Eastern Arabic and possibly Devanagari numbers; Arabic letters; the Islamic Seven Seals; and unique symbols that resist identification. Most Ethiopian rings combine numerical and non-numerical symbols, and reflections and rotations are common. As one might expect from this makeup, there is a significant overlap with the symbol repertoire of Tuareg rings. The most extreme similarities occur in the small subset of Tuareg and Ethiopian rings that carry complete sets of the Islamic Seven Seals.
    Notes:
    Additional tags: amulet, Islamic/Arabic talisman, Berber jewelry, gri gri, gris gris, inscribed silver ring/pendant, marabout, Amazigh, Oromo, Jimma, magic symbol/glyph, magic square, inaden, folk magic, apotropaic objects, Seven Seals of Solomon, ism al azam, Ethiopian magic scroll, dabtara, al Buni, ruhani
    Metadata:
    xml
    Published as:
    Online publication     Show details
    Pub. URL:
    https://www.academia.edu/7634962/The_Magic_Symbol_Repertoire_of_Talismanic_Rings_from_East_and_West_Africa
    Publisher:
    Academia.edu
    Pub. Date:
    Original 12 July, 2014; this version 25 November, 2016
    Version:
    v04
    Status:
    Published
    Last Updated:
    3 years ago
    License:
    All Rights Reserved

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