Red background decorated with black 'grilling' and yellow coloured hands throwing dice.
The ‘hamsa’ is a palm-shaped amulet found in Islamic jewellery or on textiles across West and North Africa, though it is said to predate Christianity and Islam. Also known as ‘la main de Fatima’ (Fatima’s hand – Fatima being Mohamed’s daughter), in Mali, the association is often made to the mountains in the northern regions (in Hombori, near Gao) which look the same as the open outstretched hand. The symbol is one of protection, or warding off against the ‘evil eye’.
