Mambila Tadep statuette, Cameroon - Lot 80

Mambila Tadep statuette, Cameroon Despite their small numbers, the thirty thousand Mambila (or Mambilla, Mambere, Nor, Torbi, Lagubi, Tagbo, Tongbo, Bang, Ble, Juli, Bea) ("men" in Fulani) living in north-west Cameroon have created a large number of masks and statues, easily identifiable by their heart-shaped faces. Although the Mambila believe in a creator god called Chang or Nama, they worship only their ancestors. Their chiefs were buried in granaries like wheat, as they were supposed to symbolize prosperity. Masks and statues not to be seen by women Made according to the same canons, these statues supposedly embodying the ancestors frequently feature small studs on the head as a headdress, such as this two-tone anthropomorphic figure. A cavity pierced on the abdomen probably contained therapeutic or magical ingredients. The head is traditionally tucked into the shoulders, the posture unusual, the hands brought up to the chest. The massive, crenellated legs reproduce the angular volume of the abdomen. Abraded matte patina, kaolin residue. Desiccation cracks 29 x 10 cm