Hoodoo Tools: Jonda Conka Root???
Bob Longmire
This Hoodoo (or Voodoo) item is also mentioned in a tune called
"Conjured" by Maybell Wilson (I think), and I would at least like to
know how to spell it. Then maybe I could look it up somewhere.
Please note: I am not asking for trade secrets and don't need to
know how to hex anyone. Don't tell me what to do with it; just tell
me what it is.
Lyrics from Hootchie Cootchie Man (ver. 3, I think):
I got a Black Cat Bone, and a Mojo too
I got a *Jonda Conka Root*??, and I'm gonna mess with you
...
Lyrics from Conjured:
She got a Black Cat Bone, and a Buzzard Feather,
A *Jonda Conca Root*??, and they're all joined together
...
WHAT IS THIS?
^^^^
--oo Bob Longmire
> long...@mcs.com
~
Tim of Florida
>"John the conquerer" was a talisman (mojo) sold in the Chicago area and
>was supposed to improve virility. What they are saying is "john the
>conquer-roo" I guess.
>Speaking *from* but never *for* Prodigy
Prodigy....
Okay, folks, I expected better than this on rec.music.bluenote.blues .
This was covered on Blues-L not too long ago, so if anyone saved it...
Anyway, "High John the Conquorer" is a legend/cultural narrarative
about a slave overcoming his master. "High John the Conquorer Root" is the
root of a plant, thought to have magic powers (virility, &c.). This is an
actual plant which you can grow in your backyard, but I can't remember exactly
what the scientific name is.
Now for the flames. A root is not a talisman and a talisman is not a
mojo. A mojo is a specific talisman. And second, most black magic came from
rural areas. Thus saying "sold in the Chicago" is like defining bib overalls
by saying that overalls are sold in Chicago.
Where do you hear his stuff? 11 year old white kids? Do you *really*
think the line is "john the conquer-roo"? Have you never heard anything
aside from the most popular Muddy Waters version?
--
--
It is a miracle that curiosity survives Tim Dellinger
formal education. -Albert Einstein tdel...@ux4.cso.uiuc.edu
Bill Davidsen
Bob Longmire <long...@mcs.com> wrote:
:When I sing Hootchie Cootchie Man, I'd like to know what I'm saying.
:This Hoodoo (or Voodoo) item is also mentioned in a tune called
:"Conjured" by Maybell Wilson (I think), and I would at least like to
:know how to spell it. Then maybe I could look it up somewhere.
:
:Please note: I am not asking for trade secrets and don't need to
:know how to hex anyone. Don't tell me what to do with it; just tell
:me what it is.
:
:Lyrics from Hootchie Cootchie Man (ver. 3, I think):
:
: I got a Black Cat Bone, and a Mojo too
: I got a *Jonda Conka Root*??, and I'm gonna mess with you
"John the conquerer" was a talisman (mojo) sold in the Chicago area and
was supposed to improve virility. What they are saying is "john the
conquer-roo" I guess.
This info from a Lightning Hopkins album cover ca. 1959, part of the
stuff I bought at that time when I was switching from country to blues
and ragtime.
--
Speaking *from* but never *for* Prodigy
"Pain builds moral fiber" -my dad
"Pain hurts" -me
Michael O'Hair
>
> I got a Black Cat Bone, and a Mojo too
> I got a *Jonda Conka Root*??, and I'm gonna mess with you
> ...
It's "I got John the Conqueror Root..." with a heavy accent. Any
experts on Bayou Folk Magic on board to explain the use of these
items?
Tim of Florida
I am by no means an expert, but I'll field your question.
The black cat bone (as I recall reading) is prepared by killing a black
cat at midnight, boiling the cat in a new pot which has never seen daylight,
and then biting each bone until you find the right one, and you'll know when
you find the right one. I'm sure there are many variations. I presume that
it is carried in one's pocket.
A mojo is a somewhat similar to the nickelbags you see "drug culture
alternative" people wearing nowadays. It is usually red, and contains any
number of things, with the contents usually being about the volume of what
you can fit in a large salt shaker. Sometimes there are pins stuck in/through
it. It is worn around the neck.
High John the Conquorer Root is similar to Ginseng. It is dug up,
dried, and consumed somehow.
Chris Butler
This is from the liner notes from "The Best of Muddy Waters":
"I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo tooth
I got the John the Conqueroo, I'm gonna mess with you"
"It's an uninhibited blues, rich in reference to voodoo charms, mystic,
exotic, and potent. (Marshall Stearns has pointed out in "The Story of
Jazz" to the steady sales, even now, of "John the Conqueror". It's a
charm manufactured in Chicago, designed to make a lovin' man even more
loveable. Also guaranteed as a good luck fetish in games of chance.
Rather it's the newly arrived emigre from the Deep South than the
Urban Negro who patronizes the charm counter.)"
...So, was this something the writer made up, or do these little charms
exist? Or should the above read "John the Conqueror Root", and whoever
wrote the above just made it up?
-Chris
--
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
cbu...@bnr.ca I do not speak for BNR. " "
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- -Harpo Marx
Beckwith
: Hi folks,
: This is from the liner notes from "The Best of Muddy Waters":
: "I got a black cat bone, I got a mojo tooth
: I got the John the Conqueroo, I'm gonna mess with you"
: "It's an uninhibited blues, rich in reference to voodoo charms, mystic,
: exotic, and potent. (Marshall Stearns has pointed out in "The Story of
: Jazz" to the steady sales, even now, of "John the Conqueror". It's a
: charm manufactured in Chicago, designed to make a lovin' man even more
: loveable. Also guaranteed as a good luck fetish in games of chance.
: Rather it's the newly arrived emigre from the Deep South than the
: Urban Negro who patronizes the charm counter.)"
: ...So, was this something the writer made up, or do these little charms
: exist? Or should the above read "John the Conqueror Root", and whoever
: wrote the above just made it up?
John the Conqueror (or Johnny the Conqueror) roots were among the most
popular gris-gris in the 40's. The Chicago connection is probably
two-fold. First, several of the more powerful mothers in New Orleans
came from Chicago (Chicago's Leafy Anderson brought Blackhawk to New
Orleans in the early 20's). Chicago, then, became connected with the
non-voodoo magic. Many people fell prey to the media war on voodoo
and would be more comfortable with Chicago based products. Second and
obviously more important, a large Chicago mail-order house advertised
their Johnny the Conqueror extensively. They claimed theirs was the
right stuff.
This is primarily a man's gris-gris but there is a woman's version
with a short prong. It's good for lots of stuff but love is pretty
high up there. You can soak it in sugar water for 24 hours to sweeten
it up, if you like. You rub your Johnny while you're walking and
think about who you want. It's also good for gambling (some say even
better than a lodestone).
So, in answer to your question, there are different "brands" of John
the Conqueror and one from Chicago was really popular. I suppose if
you want some and you live in a city, it wouldn't be so hard to get.
I'd try a botanica. You might be able to get some from the Voodoo
museum in New Orleans (I think they do mail order).
Oh yeah. I know some people don't like to see "gris-gris" used that
way. Sorry.
Richard