Cameroon, Cross River Region

Bamileke – Bangwa

Wood
Mid 20th century
Length: 26 in, Width: 10 in, Depth: 10 in
Idiophone – Struck Directly  – Slit Drum

This well used slit drum from Cameroon, comes from the Bangwa, a small ethnic group within the Bamileke.   It would have been used during ceremonies for the chiefdom.  Figurative slit drums are found in only a few societies in Africa and they are always from the context of serious ritual performance.  This janiform, zoomorphic, and anthropomorphic shaped slit drum has a rotund/plump body with a dipped stomach in the middle and is mounted on four legs.  The hollowed piece of wood has an “H” opening for sound on top.  Like some zoomorphic sculptural samples of the Bangwa ethnic group of the Bamileke people, the entire resonating body has incised circles throughout.  On each end are anthropomorphic heads with elongated and angular faces, and wide lips showing teeth.  The two original bats (sticks/mallets) are shaven down on one end, where most likely there was a bulb-type end, now lost.