Bamileke N' Ketuok reliquary statue, Cameroon - Lot 118

Bamileke N' Ketuok reliquary statue, Cameroon This carved figure ("N'Kétuok"), embodying a male ancestor with a large ovoid head and a thick, stocky morphology, was carved in wood and then covered with a clay coating that has now cracked. A cavity for a reliquary has been dug into the back. 40 x 13 cm Among the Bamiléké, as in other ethnic groups, art objects testified to their owner's place in society. Thus, the materials and shapes of objects varied according to social status. The Bamiléké king, also known as the Fon, guarantor of soil fertility and protection of his subjects, was not considered mortal. For this reason, his funeral was a joyous celebration, with the fon simply retiring physically but still watching over his people from his new home. Located in the Nigerian border region, Cameroon's northwestern province of Grassland is home to several ethnic groups: Tikar, Anyang, Widekum, Chamba, Bamoun and Bamileke. Several centralized chiefdoms, or kingdoms, based on customary associations and secret societies, are organized around the Fon, who is said to have extensive supernatural powers, including the ability to transform himself into an animal such as a python, elephant, leopard or buffalo.