Svoboda | Graniru | BBC Russia | Golosameriki | Facebook

The ‘exceptionally rare’ text outlawed by an Ethiopian king

When magic was outlawed by an Ethiopian Christian king in the 15th Century, a manuscript with prayers for magical transformation was kept secret for years. Now stored in the British Library, the manuscript allows historians to understand the history of magic from an African perspective.

In Harry Potter: A History of Magic, curator Eyob Derillo translates the supernatural text and reveals strikingly similar elements to the magic taught at Hogwarts.

Watch the full documentary on BBC Select.

Follow BBC Reel on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and YouTube.