An Adamawa terracotta, Nigeria, north Adamawa region. Certificate of origin and proveance. The Cham terracotta healing vessel is central to Longuda traditional medicine. These vessels are used by spiritual healers, diviners, and herbalists, who prepare herbal concoctions, sacrificial offerings, and medicinal infusions in them. The belief is that the pot itself absorbs and amplifies spiritual energy, making the medicines more potent. According to Nzewunwa (1983), Longuda healing vessels are associated with ancestral spirits, who are thought to intervene in human affairs through these ritual objects. In some cases, the vessels are placed in shrines or burial sites to commemorate deceased elders, reinforcing the connection between the living and the dead. During healing ceremonies, ritual specialists fill the terracotta vessels with medicinal substances, performing incantations and libations to activate their spiritual power. The vessel acts as a conduit between the healer and supernatural forces, ensuring the effectiveness of the treatment. The curative process often involves smearing the contents on the body, consuming prepared mixtures, or inhaling the vapor from the vessel (Eyo, 1994). "The Cham terracotta healing vessels are not mere containers; they are imbued with spiritual power, functioning as active agents in the process of divine intervention. Within Longuda cosmology, these vessels serve as bridges between the material and metaphysical worlds, ensuring that the medicinal preparations they contain are spiritually fortified. Their use extends beyond mere medical treatment—they are sacred objects that harness ancestral wisdom and supernatural potency.” — Fagg, B. (1977). Nigerian Terracottas: Their Meaning and Function in Traditional Medicine. British Museum Press, p. 82. "This vessel was created for use in Longuda kwandalha healing divinations. After a ritual specialist determined the cause of a disease, the patient was given a newly modeled vessel, into which the disease was transferred. Such pots, which tend to embody the symptoms described, are remarkable for their highly expressive and imaginative forms." Source: Brooklyn Museum.