Tongara

This is a Tongara or killing club used by the Kondo of the Tongo Players. It is made of wood, bound with hide and raffia. Tongo Players, was a name given to a group of professional witch finders who were called in to investigate and detect members of the Leopard Society, blamed for a series of murders in Imperri chiefdom in the early 1890s. All Tongo activity was later banned by the British Colonial Government. The Tongara was thought to be used in the accusation of witches; it would be shaken up and down on the ground until it selected the accused. The Kondo is otherwise associated with being the fee collector.

Further Information

• Type: Religious/ritual equipment, charms
• Object: Tongara
• Materials: Wood, Leather, animal skin, Vegetable, organic fibre, Metal
• Culture Group: Mende, Sherbro
• Dimensions: 400mm x 640mm
• Production Date: Pre 1910
• Associated Places: Sierra Leone (Collected): Sherbro District (Created)
• Associated People: L. Probyn (Donor); G. W. Page (Collector)
• Museum: World Museum Liverpool Sierra Leone Collection
• Accession Number: LIVCM.17.12.10.7

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