The Mambila are a small tribe of farmers in northeastern Nigeria, on the border of Cameroon. The present, typical Mambila figure depicts a male ancestor. Made of hard wood and dyed black. Its massive head features a heart-shaped face with deep-set coffee bean eyes, a short nose and an open mouth with sketched rows of teeth. The eyes were originally white-rimmed, the mouth displays remains of red colouring.
The characteristic Mambila hairstyle consists of inserted wooden pegs, the ears are grooved triangles originally dyed red. The head rests on a neckless, compact body with ‘Cubist’ abstract features. With bent arms and sketched hands, a square protruding abdomen, short legs with pointed knees, thick feet, and legs apart. Figures such as the present one are preserved in special ancestor huts. They protect the village and its inhabitants.
This quite typical Mambila ancestor, called ‘Tadep’, shows minor age-related damage (old cracks to the feet, one tear to the head and one to the right leg). It also has impressive, very old, black-encrusted and partly shiny sacrificial patina.
First third of the 20th century; H: 19 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Belgian Collection; Austrian Private Collection.

Lit.: 'Mambilla' by Nancy Beth A. Schwartz, fig. 10, 40; 'The Tribal Arts of Africa' by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 104, fig. 3; 'Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture' by K.-F. Schädler, fig. p. 414.