Gabon

Fang

Wood, kaolin, cloth, polychrome
Early- Mid 20th century
Length 28.5 in; Width 9 in; Depth 8.25 in
Other – Regalia – Headdress

The majority of the Fang people inhabit the Equatorial rain forest in Gabon. They produced a famous headdress known as ngil, which featured a long, abstract white face.  It was used until the early 20th century for secret society ritual purposes.  Among the Fang, the spirits of the dead are associated with the color white, suggesting a connection with the ancestral realm, while the white clay (kaolin) was also used by healers in medical practices.  Thus, these headdresses could have been related to either set of practices.  Fang headdresses are still found today, though they are now used only for entertainment, having lost their ritual importance.