In the fertile Grassfields, in northwestern Cameroon, every village, every town and every major aristocratic family has its own group of so-called ‘Juju dancers’. They perform during all important events and feasts, such as the enthronement of a new ‘king’ (or chief), the worshipping of ancestors, funeral rituals etc. The dancers wear these crest masks not on the face, but on the head. They can see from under the mask through a net.
The present Grassfields mask is made of hard, heavy wood, carved in typical style and dyed black. It depicts ‘Ngoin’, the first wife of ‘Kam’, cult leader and chief of the dance group.
The ‘Ngoin mask’ shows very good, old usage patina on the outside as well as on the lower inner edge (where the mask rests on the dancer’s head during the performance). With small, age-related damage: a fracture to the back, with an old original repair, a crack to the upper section, as well as minor tears.
A piece of remarkable age, probably collected in Cameroon during the German colonial period (until 1919).
Between c. 1900 and the beginning of the 20th century; H: 33 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Neumeister Auktionen, Munich; Austrian Private Collection.

Literature: 'Kamerun. Kunst der Könige' by Lorenz Homberger, Rietberg Museum Zurich, fig. 60, 65.

additional picture:
Photo from ‘Kamerun – Kunst der Könige’ by L. Homberger, Rietberg Museum Zurich
Cameroon Grassfields: A ‘Ngoin mask’ in action.