Cameroon, Grassfields Region
Bamum

Wood, bronze, cloth
Early-Mid 20th century
Height: 19 in
Idiophone – Directly Struck

A vintage ceremonial Bamum/Bamoun bronze gong from the Grassfields of Cameroon.  On top, this striking gong features the head of a female with large inset eyes and a cap headdress prominently crowned with a high-relief lizard motif.  A lengthy tight sewn red cloth is wrapped around the neck and is adorned with cowrie shells.  The neck wrap is extended and becomes a shoulder strap for carrying the gong and extends to a a fiber beater with an inserted piece of wood at the end, used to strike/beat the bell.  The body of the large lizard in high relief design on the top of the head extends down the back of the female head, plus there is a high relief lizard on the front of the bell body.

This bell with the iconographic design was most likely utilized during high-level state ceremonies, royal funerals, and the agricultural festivals that marked the beginning of the Bamum calendar.  Symbolically the prominent lizard motif atop the head served as a visual warning to onlookers that the ruling authorities were ever watchful, enforcing social order and traditional law.

The historical kingdom of the Bamun (often referred to as Bamoun in French, Bamum in Anglophone) represents one of the most politically complex and artistically influential cultures of the so-called Cameroon Grasslands.  An outstanding read is found in the Resource Link below:

Resource: https://africanarchive.org/en/staemme/bamun