Tribal Art

Several types of masks are listed among the Bamileke who seek power by allying themselves with animals: such as this rare mask depicting a great ape, with human hair extended with braids and accessorized with heterogeneous talismans. The features are enhanced with ocher and white pigments. A wicker strapping, adjusted to the internal contours of the mask, held the carved wooden face on the wearer's head.
In the border region of Nigeria, the North West province of Cameroon, the Grassland is made up of several ethnic groups: Tikar, Anyang, Widekum, Chamba, Bamoun and Bamileke. Several centralized chiefdoms, or kingdoms, based on customary associations, secret societies, are organized around the Fon who would have broad supernatural powers including that of being able to change into animals such as the python, the elephant, leopard, or buffalo. Religious leader, he is also a judge and warlord. His position, however, includes many obligations that he had to fulfill in order not to be put to death. Source: "The Bamileke" R. Lecoq