Table 2.
Ritual uses of palms in sub-Saharan Africa
| Palm species | Palm part(s) used | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
|
Borassus aethiopum Mart. African fan palm |
seed, root |
- treatment of diseases and disorders |
| - ceremonies | ||
|
Cocos nucifera L. Coconut |
fruit, entire palm tree |
- treatment of diseases and disorders |
| - sacred places | ||
| - offerings | ||
|
Dypsis canaliculata Jum. (Beentje) & J.Dransf. |
entire palm tree |
- sacred places |
|
Dypsis fibrosa (C.H.Wright) Beentje & J.Dransf. |
leaf |
- ceremonies |
|
Dypsis pinnatifrons Mart. |
leaf |
- ceremonies |
|
Elaeis guinnensis Jacq. African oil palm |
fruit, seed, infructescence/inflorescence, leaf, root |
- treatment of diseases and disorders |
| - offerings | ||
| - protection | ||
| - oracles | ||
| - taboo | ||
|
Elaeis guineensis var. idolatrica A.Chev. |
entire palm tree |
- sacred places |
|
Hyphaene coriacea Gaertn. Doum palm |
leaf |
- treatment of diseases and disorders |
| - ceremonies | ||
|
Hyphaene petersiana Klotzsch ex Mart. |
leaf |
- ceremonies |
|
Phoenix reclinata Jacq. Senegal date palm |
leaf |
- ceremonies |
|
Raphia farinifera (Gaertn.) Hyl. |
leaf |
- ceremonies |
|
Raphia hookeri G.Mann & H.Wendl. Raphia-palm |
seed |
- treatment of diseases and disorders |
|
Raphia vinifera P.Beauv. West African piassava palm, Bamboo-palm |
leaf |
- protection |
| Unidentified palm species |
leaf |
- treatment of diseases and disorders |
| - offerings | ||
| - protection | ||
| - oracles | ||
| - ceremonies |
The purposes are generalized into categories.