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Madagascar

Madagascar borders the Mozambique Channel off the east coast of Africa. Since the early Christian era, the Great Red Island has been a melting pot for successive waves of Austronesian, African and Arab settlers.

Malagasy spirituality is intimately related to the ancestors. It has remained primordial for the islanders, despite colonisation and the coming of the missionaries.

Ody, Amulets and Talismans

In Malagasy spiritual practices, magical objects or ody forge a link between the world of the ancestors and the world of the living.

This "talisman" takes many different forms and is mainly composed of organic materials. It is made and consecrated by the ombiasy, the sorcerer and therapist, and then given to its future owner(s). The protective ody will keep a couple together, make the owner invulnerable, protect children from an early death or ensure victory in a battle. Other ody have a votive function, supposed to bring the owner(s) wealth, prosperity and good health.