African Arts Gallery

African art and tools. The Matakam also called Mafa, from the group named Kirdi or "pagans" by the Islamized peoples, are a population of Central Africa, mainly present in the far north of Cameroon, also in Nigeria. The Kirdi include the Matakam, Kapsiki, Margui, Mofou, Massa, Toupouri, Fali, Namchi, Bata, Do ayo... The Matakam are known to have been the first in contact with the German settlers. Before the colonial period, transactions were made using cowries, pearls, cattle, kola nuts, but also metals, weapons and tools. These primitive currencies were used during commercial and social exchanges, for dowries in particular, but could also constitute parade objects or throwing weapons. The variety of these metal forms is wide, and they sometimes take the form of particularly aesthetic non-figurative sculptures.