Gabon, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea Regions
Fang

Wood, fiber rope
Mid 20th Century
Length: 20 in, Width: 3 in, Depth: 3 in
Idiophone – Rasp – Scrapped

The great majority of Fang wood sculptures are related to the Byeri Cult; (i.e., the guardian statue, which surmounted the Byeri Box containing ancestral skeletal remains). The worship of Byeri (cult ancestors) was practice in all Fang villages, both in southern Cameroon and in Gabon and Rio Muni.  The term ‘Byeri’ refers to both worship and related objects.  However, from the 1920’s on, these customs were abandoned.   Thus, under French colonial rule, they converted to Christianity. However, after independence their interest in their own traditional religion, called Biere, also spelled Byeri, has returned, and many practice syncretic ideas and rites.  The Ntumu population of the Fang was estimated at 50,000 people out of the 200,000 ‘Fang’.  Ntumu artists carved wooden figures such as this Byeri with its stylistic rounded shaped head with bulging forehead above a concave heart-shaped face. The arms and shoulders are muscular and the hands are brought in front of the chest/stomach. Every-day objects like this musical rasp instrument also incorporates figures, items, which would be used during the “So” initiation ceremonies of young boys. This musical instrument is played by rhythmically rubbing the wooden ring, attached to the string, up and down the segmented body. This section is hollowed at the back to promote a better sound quality. The result is a continuous rolling sound, and it often accompanies drums.