In the fertile grassland of north-west Cameroon there are many small kingdoms. Sculptures of this size were produced there either as memorial figures for important rulers, or as so-called ‘mu’po’ figures for priests, sooth-sayers and healers of the ‘kun’gan’ society, who used them during their oracles and when healing the sick.
The present sculpture is probably a ‘mu’po’ figure, albeit unusually large, for ritual purposes. Carved of very hard, dark and heavy wood and completely dyed black. Only the large, deep eye sockets with the conically protruding, slit eyes and the wide protruding mouth are dyed red (with redwood powder). The bald, long head displays the single notched line of a decorative tattoo from the top of the head over the forehead and the ridge of the broad, short nose. Three short, vertical and linear decorative scarification marks lie in front of both ears, and between the nose and mouth a sort of broad ‘moustache’ of raised dots is carved transversely across the entire face. The arms lie bent on the body and both hands hold the large, spherical belly, which in the Cameroon Grasslands is a symbol of prosperity and health. The entire figure stands slightly bent forwards, with bent stocky legs and feet, on a thick, round plinth.
This unusually large ‘mu’po’ figure, representing the powerful ‘spirit aid’ of a priest, soothsayer and healer, is crafted with a keen eye for detail (see the fingernails and toenails). It has a few comparatively small, visibly very old losses and breaks to the head at the top and behind, on the back, on the left forearm and on the right thumb, as well as old cracks on the back, on the left side of the head and on the right leg and plinth. In addition, this ‘mu’po’ displays a fine, shiny age patina overall.
Height: c. 65 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: Austrian private collection.

Lit.: ‘Kamerun. Kunst der Könige’ by Lorenz Homberger, Rietberg Museum, Zurich, p. 194/195, ill. 84, 87; p. 207, ill. 101.