African Being

Searching for soul enlightenment.

When people talk about coins, teeth, and African traditions, they typically refer to one of three distinct cultural practices.

1. The Tooth Mouse in South Africa

In South Africa, many children leave their lost baby teeth in a slipper next to their bed rather than under their pillow. Overnight, a "Tooth Mouse" (or Tandmuis in Afrikaans) visits, takes the baby tooth, and leaves behind a small gift, treats, or coins in exchange. This custom is closely tied to European and Hispanic folklore brought to the region over time. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]

2. Traditional Dental Alterations

In certain regions across Central and East Africa (such as the Congo, Cameroon, and Uganda), some communities practice traditional tooth alteration. This includes the intentional chipping, sharpening, or filing of the front teeth (incisors) into pointed shapes, such as the akuha tradition of making teeth resemble those of a crocodile. These modifications often serve as a rite of passage, an indicator of tribal identity, or a spiritual symbol of beauty and power. [1, 2]

3. Spiritual Use of Coins and Teeth in Folk Magic

In some traditional West African spiritual practices and folklores—often seen in the context of household items like wooden mortars—there is a historical and ritualistic link between the two. Historically, when items like wooden mortars were brought into a home, ancestors or practitioners would place a coin inside to symbolically "occupy" the space. In the ancient times before coins were invented, actual goat teeth or salt were placed into the mortar as a substitute.