afus
Hand / Khamsa
Also: khamsa, hand of Fatima, afus n lbaraka
AnthropomorphicActiveTachelhitmedium confidence
Found in:JewelryTattooTextilePottery
Context:DecorativeProtection
A
Attested Usage
What is documented — academic sources, fieldwork, museum collections
The hand (khamsa, five) is a powerful protective symbol. The five fingers ward off evil, and the open palm projects blessing and safety.
TachelhitTextile
Decorative
Source:Traditional Amazigh craft documentation
ethnographic · medium confidence
B
Oral Interpretations
What people say it means — often multiple, sometimes contradictory
“While commonly associated with Islamic or Jewish tradition, the hand of protection has pre-Abrahamic roots in North Africa. Amazigh door knockers are often shaped as hands, blessing all who enter.”
Tachelhit
— Cultural tradition
Sources
- Documented in Amazigh textile and pottery traditions
Last updated: 2026-02-16