AFRICA: ONE CONTINENT. MANY WORLDS | AFRICAN STORIES | CAMEROON

The wealthy and powerful bought the best that artists offered

Among over 100 Grassfield societies, the finest woodwork came from the carvers of Kijem Kegu. Oku smiths made the best brasswork. Nsei artists made the most beautiful pipes.

Master artists came to use many of the same symbols in the work they sold to different Grassfields peoples.

Less prosperous Grassfields residents bought objects from local artists or made things themselves out of local wood, clay or straw. Even ordinary objects were decorated to make them more beautiful.

Pipe with Stem
Clay, wood, skin, tin foil
Kung Peoples, Cameroon
Before 1914
Prestige Shoes
Cloth, leather, plastic beads
Foumban, Cameroon
1995
Human Face Mask
Wood
Unidentified Grassfields society.
Cameroon
Before 1914
Prestige Hat
Cotton yarns
Unidentified Grassfields society.
Bafoussam, Cameroon
Before 1914
Prestige Hat
Cotton yarns
Unidentified Grassfields society.
Bafoussam, Cameroon
Before 1914
Human Face Mask
Wood
Banjun, Cameroon
Before 1914
Pipe Bowl
Clay
Unidentified Grassfields society.
Cameroon
Before 1914

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Graphic by Kimberly Townsend.

jca