Definition of Maban

Maban or Mabain is a material that is held to be magical in Australian Aboriginal mythology. It is the material from which the Clever Women and Clever Men and Elders of Indigenous Australia supposedly derive their magical powers. Maban is variously identified by different Australian Aboriginal tribes with quartz crystals, australites, mother of pearl, blood, ochre, feathers, Desert Rose, seeds, etc. The  polyvalent term maban also shares meanings with the term 'shaman' and may be employed to denote Clever Women and Clever Men directly.