Continental Equatorial Guinea. Gabon, and coastal region of Cameroon
Fang

Wood. rattan, paste, seeds, cowrie shells
Early 20th Century
Length: 13.5 inches
Idiophone – Struck Indirectly – Shaken -Rattle

The Fang peoples practice a cult devoted to ancestor lineages, the byeri, whose aim is to both protect themselves from the deceased and to recruit their aid in matters of daily life. The byeri, or ancestor figure, would be consulted when the village was to change location, when a new crop was planted, or before going hunting, fishing, or to war. The ritual consisted of prayers, libations, and sacrifices offered to the ancestor, whose scull would be rubbed with powder and paint each time.  The byeri also served for therapeutic rituals and, above all, for the initiation of young males during the great ‘So’ festival.  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.  This is an original byeri ceremonial rattle, but also shows artistic characteristics from the Ngoumba people of Gabon and the coastal region of  Cameroon.  Shows signs of usage and age.