Tribal Art

Stick surmounted by a Fang Mabea type miniature, embodying the ancestor of the clan, guardian of the reliquary boxes of the Byeri cult. Minor erosions.
Height on base: 645 cm.
The Fang ethnic group, established in a region extending from Yaoundé in Cameroon to Ogooué in Gabon, has strongly influenced the Mabea of southern Cameroon who have absorbed a large part of their rites such as so and the ngil. The reliquary statues, sculpted by the Mabea, are however generally larger than those of the Fang and adorned with various finery. The hairstyle is also very distinct, divided into shells, unlike the Fang crest. Among the Fang of Cameroon and Gabon, each family has a “Byeri”, or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are kept. The reliquary boxes were topped with a statue or head which acted as guardian of the “byeri” boxes. They were also used during initiation ceremonies for young people linked to the "So" society.