Tony Kail: Memphis Hoodoo Folklife Museum

Tony Kail is an ethnographer and writer. He holds a degree in cultural anthropology and has researched magico-religious cultures for more than twenty-five years. His work has taken him from Voodoo ceremonies in New Orleans to Haitian Botanicas in Harlem and Spiritual Churches in East Africa. Tony’s project focused on creating a Memphis Hoodoo Folklife Museum inside of the A. Schwab store on Beale Street. Below are a few photos from his presentation.

A display table features informational posters about Hoodoo, its origins, and slavery, alongside African-inspired sculptures and artifacts, including a central carved figure lying on a flat surface. A wooden and glass display cabinet with three shelves containing various vintage bottles and cans of beauty and hair care products, with labels visible but partially obscured by reflections. Two glass display cases with historical artifacts and documents inside stand against a wall covered with framed photos, articles, and portraits in a museum exhibit setting. A wooden display case containing various vintage medicine bottles and containers, with framed black-and-white photos and documents hanging on the wall behind it.

View a portion of Tony’s presentation here: Memphis Hoodoo Folklife Museum