Lucky Charms of Liberia

Liberia's diverse peoples including the Kpelle, Bassa, Mano, and Grebo have strong traditions of protective amulets and secret societies. The Poro and Sande societies, shared with Sierra Leone, control the most powerful protective objects in Liberian indigenous society. Ancestral masquerades concentrate protective power and are used at funerals, initiations, and times of community crisis.

The Americo-Liberian community — founded by freed American slaves — brought mojo hand and root work amulet traditions from North America, creating a unique circuit of luck-charm knowledge between West Africa and its diaspora. Cowrie shells feature in divination and traditional dress. Specific tree roots, animal parts, and herbs are combined by specialists for protective and luck-attracting bundles.