Cameroon, Bamiléké – Dance mask

The Bamileke are a people of Central Africa, coming from Cameroon (West region) in the Grassland region where the Bamoun, Tikar also live, close to them by their common ancestors, their neighboring social structures and their languages. .

The work of D. Toukam (“History and anthropology of the Bamileke people”, Paris, L’Harmattan, 2010 and 2016; …) conclude that the Bamileke would most likely come from the Baladis of ancient Egypt (natives of Upper -Egypt). In Egypt, the current Feelahins / Copts are largely recognized as Baladis converted by force, but still retaining huge parts of their ancestral culture. Departing from Upper Egypt in the 9th century AD, the Baladis-Bamileke arrived in the Tikar region in the 12th century. They were neighbors of the Tikar, but were never descendants of Tikar, contrary to popular belief.

The Bamilekes are, in spiritual matters, of great complexity The whole of their traditional religious organization is composed of initiation practices, meditations and rituals.

Their production of objects linked to their different cults has been very rich and some cults are still in progress today by exploiting ancient masks kept in certain chiefdoms or with certain notables or pieces called ” replacement “created to replace old worn, too damaged parts or because the use was limited in time.

Cameroun. Masque Bamiléké

Surmonté d’une superbe coiffe ouvragée, cet très important masque Bamiléké est caractérisque des grands masques royaux du Cameroun réservés aux dignitaires de haut rang.
H. 50 cm.

Cameroun. Masque Bangwa

Chez les Bangwa, les masques étaient gardé dans le grenier des cases habitées. La fumée diffusant à travers le plafond a pu déposer ainsi progressivement une épaisse croûte granuleuse de suie et de goudron qui enveloppe l’objet et atténue les détails.
Bois, pigments, patine sacrificielle.
Hauteur approx. 45 cm.

Cameroun. Masque janus Bamiléké

Beau et rare masque janus Bamiléké.
H. approx. 40 cm.