Cameroon - Lot 101

Cameroon Bulu Fang reliquary figure Wood, basketry, skull H.45 cm - L.30 cm This impressive monkey figure features a large cavity for the bones. Located on the border between Cameroon and Gabon, the BULU are part of the Fang group, not far from the BAKWELE who are culturally close to them. Like the FANG of southern Cameroon, famous for their large white masks from 1880 to 1910, the BULU practiced the ngi ritual to combat witchcraft, particularly poisoning. Ngi is the gorilla, the fearsome animal with which the postulant identifies after being accepted into the association. Few monkey statues have survived; they are striking for their invention of simple, round shapes and for their accurate observation of the animal's attitude.