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Cameroon Helmet Mask

COUNTRY: CAMEROON

ETHNIC GROUP: BAMUN

MATERIALS: WOOD, PIGMENT

HEIGHT: 14 in.

 

There are hundreds of small chieftaincies in Cameroon. The Kingdom of Bamun is one of the most powerful. The chief, known as the Fon, aided my his counselors governs the nation.

 

There is a unity of style evident in these masks which makes them very easy to recognize. They are often in helmet or crest form and are worn on top of the head. In this example, the hemispherical protruberances above the face depict the royal headdress worn by the Fon.

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Uploaded on December 15, 2008
Taken on December 15, 2008