In the Grasslands, in northwestern Cameroon, every village and every town 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. Dancers wear these head crest masks not on their face, but on their head. The dancer can see from under the mask through a net or a piece of fabric. Only the cult leaders of the dance groups wear these ‘kam’ or ‘akam masks’ with hairstyle and beard. The present ‘kam mask’ made of hard, heavy wood and dyed black, is magnificently decorated. The hairstyle and beard consist of woven plant fibres richly adorned with glass pearls of red, black, yellow and other colours. The beard is only red. The glass pearls are mounted on fine plant fibres and these glass pearl threads are in turn ‘sewn’ on the fabric foundation (also with plant fibres). According to information supplied by the consignor, this mask belonged to the Bamileke in the Bangangté region of the southern Grassfields. This type was probably used especially on the occasion of the enthronement of a new ‘king’ (or chief). This interesting piece shows good shiny patina on the inside of the mask (where it rests on the dancer’s head) and on the edges, as a result of protracted use. Minor age damage (some glass pearls missing). First half of the 20th century; H: 40 cm, W: 28 cm. (ME)

Provenance: Czech private collection.

Lit.: ‘The Tribal Art of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, ill. p. 110; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 68; ‘Kamerun. Kunst der Könige’ by Lorenz Homberger, p. 236, ill. 131, 133.

Additional picture:
The ‘kam’ cult leader mask of a ‘juju’ dance society of the Kom people (or Bekom). At the festival of the dead in Belo Kom, Cameroon, taken on 24 January 1976.
Photo from ‘Kamerun. Kunst der Könige’ by Lorenz Homberger