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POTIONS | October 6th | Lesson #15 | African Potions

Western Witches and Wizards, particularly the maheka-lala, or the Curse-Breakers of Gringotts are still seeking the true nature of Egyptian Magic, or heka. In fact, the Magical communities of Egypt now have no recollection of this heritage of powerful and advanced magic either, and the magic practiced there now can best be characterized as Western in nature.

However, one of the ingredients endemic to Potions in Northern Africa, particularly those brewed in Morocco, contains flowers and essential oils from the argan tree, a species of tree in the Sous valley in southwestern Morocco. The flowers of the argan tree are used in beautifying creams as well as slimming and thinning potions. The oil, meanwhile, has widespread use in North African Potioneering, being utilized not only in different beautifying potions, but also love and lust potions, and certain healing potions, particularly those that cure digestive issues, ulcers, and other stomach problems.

There are a few species native to North Africa that are still used in region-specific potions. The first of these is the Fat-Tailed Scorpion, of the genus Androctonus, whose etymological root comes from the Greek for “man-killer.” The tail of this scorpion is used in certain strong antidotes to poison, and can also be used in powerful anti-venoms. The claws meanwhile can be used in potions that increase an individual’s stealth and cunning.

The Egyptian Cobra is another popular ingredient - as well as occasional Witch or Wizard pet - in North Africa. Despite its common name, this snake can be found across most of North Africa and parts of the Middle East, as well as across the savannas of West Africa, and even parts of East Africa. The blood of this snake is a very powerful ingredient, and it is thought that the skin of the hood of the Egyptian Cobra may be one of the important ingredients in the mysterious Drink of Despair, occasionally known as the Emerald Potion. The use of the hood of this cobra is illegal in most parts of the Magical world.

A very important animal that, while it can be found elsewhere in the world, originally came from Egypt is the phoenix. The feathers of the phoenix will be well known to students in Great Britain, as it is one of the three cores that the Ollivander family uses exclusively in their wands. While phoenix tears are on their own magical curatives, these tears can also be used in very powerful curing potions. Phoenix tears are exceedingly rare and difficult to track down by legal and ethical means, so these potions are not often used.

One relatively unique aspect of North African Potioneering that is seen, though to a lesser extent, in Central and Eastern African regions is the use of chips of metallic and stone elements in Potioneering, often heavily utilizing the substances alchemic principles. For instance, there is an incredibly power love potion that was invented in the sixteenth century in Morocco that utilizes not only dates from the date palm and two spines from the crested porcupine, but also incorporates shavings of copper as one of its major ingredients.

Traditionally, Witches and Wizards of Southern Africa took the role of shaman, priest, healer, and occasionally even leadership positions within their communities, mostly of the San, Bantu, and Khoikhoi people, although those of the Zulu nation arrived a little later in the region’s history. Potions were not quite as commonly used as healing energies, healing charms, and even runic enchantments. However, traditional plants native to Southern Africa were used in potions primarily brewed for healing, protection and strength, and dreams. For example, the leaves of a plant native to South Africa known as Uzara are used in antidotes to uncommon poisons. Meanwhile, the roots of the plant Silene pilosellifolia are used in several Draughts of Vivid Dreaming.

One of the most powerful protective potions known to Wizardkind is, in fact, a highly complicated and time-sensitive concoction that comes from Southern Africa composed of the blood of a Blackhead Persian sheep, the eyes of a galago (more commonly called a bushbaby), and charred wood chips from an African date tree. This potion, while it will not defend the taker from all harm or disease, will make them resistant to many forms of dark magic and assault. Few have managed to brew this protective potion successfully, and none off the continent of Africa, interestingly. Galago eyes are also used in other protective potions, which, while they are not quite as efficacious as the Staalhart Serum, are still quite handy, and can be brewed in Europe and Great Britain.

These days, much of the Potioneering in urban South Africa is heavily influenced by the European Witches and Wizards who arrived during the colonization of the region. Although Wizarding kind has often been in close contact and agreement in other situations of colonization and influx of magical and non-magical kind from elsewhere, there was a good deal of strife and tension between the Witches and Wizards who lived in South Africa and those who arrived with the colonizers in the 17th century and onward. There was, in fact, a twenty-year conflict between the magical South Africans and Dutch-descended Witches and Wizards at the beginning of this century that only ended when the International Ministry stepped in to control the situation. The conflict is now known as Die Draai or “The Turning.”

Also a well-known symbol in East African non-magical populations, particularly among the Maasai, the zebu or Brahman cow is one of the unique elements of East African potioneering. While they have myriad uses in Kenya and Tanzania for dairy, meat, and draught oxen, their tongue, hooves, blood, and liver also have several unique uses in Potions. Scrapings from their hooves, for example, can be used in potions that very rapidly heal blisters, sores and other cuts, while their tongue is often used in secrecy or silencing potions. These are potions which, in conjunction with specific complicated spells, can prevent a person from speaking about a particular topic or revealing a secret. Though not as dire as a blood oath, as they can be overcome without harm by a very strong mind, they are still very tricky potions with which to manage.

Feathers of the Superb Starling (Lamprotornis superbus) are also used in beautification potions, and are in fact occasionally used as pets. When they are used as such, they are not poached for their feathers, but rather collected from the cages and enclosures to keep for potioneering. The specific beautification potions for which they’re used promote smooth, blemish free skin and thick, smooth hair. Dried feet of these starlings are also used for muscle-building potions and potions that encourage toning of the body. While these potions will not alter the composition of the body on their own, they do seem to impact the overall metabolism and resource allocation, so that physical exertion has a faster and more robust impact on the Witch or Wizard who consumes it.

In the past five decades or so, the magical population in Central Africa has dropped greatly, with much of this population traveling to West Africa, in consideration of seeking to escape Muggle conflicts. Many families also desire to be located closer to Uagadou, and as such, there have been much larger Magical communities established in Mali and Burkina Faso.

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