Aboriginies in Australia have similar beliefs.

One is called 'pointing the bone'. If a Aborigine points a bone at another in order to put a curse on him, the other will believe he is doomed and will die. At least among traditional Aborigines. The modern ones are probably too pissed to believe anything.

A practical application. A relative of mine was living in Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea. He was continually being broken into by "rascals" (local criminal gangs) but after he visited a witch doctor and placed a charm on his verandah, it stopped.