A Beaded Bamileke N'Kang Mask

Western Cameroon, 20th century, carved wood mask with applied clay, beadwork, and braided rope to form hair and beard.

17 x 11 x 5 in.

From the Collection of the late Robert and Judith Weston, Detroit, Michigan

The n'kang, and more famous, elephant masks of the Bamileke people were usually worn during state ceremonies or annual festivities. The leading dancer wears a n’kang mask which bears a false beard, a coiffure split in two symmetrical parts and is often covered in royal paraphernalia such as cowrie shells and beads. The n’kang mask is followed by other masks representing a woman, a man or an animal. The buffalo and elephant masks represented strength and power, and the spider mask, intelligence, but most of the meanings are now lost.

A few areas of looseness to beadwork; some insect damage and cracking to wood visible to posterior.