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Table 8 Common bean folk varieties used as mystical-religious plants

From: Folk taxonomy and traditional uses of common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) landraces by the sociolinguistic groups in the central region of the Republic of Benin

Roles

Purpose of uses

Folk varieties

Organ

Use

Ethnic groups

Percentage of responses

Protection against evil spirits

Fields protection

Akpakoun wéwé,

Mitoyikoun

Whole plant

Planted in the fields

Mahi, Fon

29.1

Homes protection

Akpakoun rouge, Sessé

Whole plant

Sow next to the houses

Mahi

20.7

Pregnancy protection

Kpankoui rouge

Leaves

Triturate the leaves in water, then wash with each 3 months so three times before delivery

Adja

4.2

Protection against enemies attacks

Akpakoun vovo

Whole plant

Go naked towards the plant in the middle of the night and praise the plant and ask for protection against your enemies. Then take the leaves with which you shower after infusion

Mahi

8.3

Treatment of supernaturally caused illnesses

Bewitchment

Séssé

Roots

Triturate the roots in a little water and add the palm kernel oil and drink the potion

Fon

4.2

Traditional ceremonies

Offering to certain deities

Akpakoun wéwé

Seeds

Seeds are prepared and offered to the deities during the rites

Fon

4.2

Hunters’ ceremonies

Akpalakoun founfou

Seeds

Use to attract animals to hunters

Ifé

4.2

Twins ceremony

Sessé

Seeds

Seeds are prepared and served to the twins and the family concerned with palm oil at the end of the ceremony

Nago, Ifé

8.3

Traditional family ceremony

Kpalakoun kpikpa

Seeds

Seeds are cooked with Kersting’s groundnut and served to the guests

Idaasha

4.2

Guèlèdè traditional dance (ancestor cults)

Séssé

Seeds

Seeds are prepared and served to the followers which helps them to have a good memory

Ifé

4.2

Spiritual warfare

Fight his enemies

Séssé

Seeds

At the ceremony the prepared beans are delivered to the fetish with the name of the enemy

Idaasha

4.2

Love potion

Bring a person to love you

Sonouhoué

Leaves

The leaves are mixed with spider eggs and the last drops of human urine wanting to be loved. The juice obtained is applied to the eyes of the bewitched person.

Mahi

4.2