African Arts Gallery

Rituals of justice and African masks Fang. Housed under an ample rounded forehead, the concave, stretched face is prolonged by a narrow, curved chin accusing a severe pout.

Locally abraded granular dry skin.
The appearance of these masks coated with kaolin (the white color evokes the power of the ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause fright. This type of mask was used by the male ngil society in northwestern Gabon, southern Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.  This secret society was responsible for initiations and fought against witchcraft.  The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The bearers of these masks, always in large numbers, made their appearance at night, lit by torches . Their intervention was also linked to the judicial ...

African art and tribal masks related to justice
. Housed under a high forehead, small narrow eyes give an imperturbable physiognomy to this mask where the mouth is no longer visible. The traditional scarifications are engraved on the surface. The appearance of these masks coated with kaolin (the white color evokes the power of the ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause fright. This type of mask was used by the male ngil society which no longer exists today. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. Erosions.
The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, made their appearance at night, lit by torches . Their intervention was also linked to the judicial function by designating the culprits of bad deeds within the village.

Partially damaged by storage conditions, this Ngil mask reflects the severity of the ritual of justice. Thin incisions deeply housed under the arches, incised motifs evoking one of the cut teeth, form an impenetrable face.
Bois soft, abraded surface, velvety dry patina.
The appearance of these kaolin-coated masks (the white color evokes the power of ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause dread. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil in northwestern Gabon, southern Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.  This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, appeared at night, lit by torches. Their intervention was also ...

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A classic example of the African Fang mask, a mask of justice whose gravity is expressed by a long face, narrow pupils, and a pouting mouth. Engraved motifs on the gray surface evoke the tribal scarifications in use. Abraded patina, erosions. The appearance of these masks, generally coated with kaolin (the white color evokes the power of the ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause fright. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil which no longer exists today. This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The bearers of these masks, always in large numbers, made their appearance at night, lit by torches. Their intervention was also linked to the ...

Ex-collection French African art.
. The appearance of these masks usually coated with kaolin (the white color evokes the power of the ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause fright. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil which no longer exists today. This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The Fang,formerly called Pahouin, are divided into several subsets in three countries, Cameroon, Gabn, and the mainland of Equatorial Guinea. Mainly hunters, they also practice agriculture. The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, made their appearance at night, lit by torches. Their intervention was also linked to the judicial function by ...

This African mask , from the Fang, sports a severe physiognomy: its stretched face is imposing. A broad rounded forehead extends from small eyes, housed below arched eyebrows, accompanied by a long, slender nose. The face ends with a serious pout. This mask has scarification marks traditional to the Fang of the Ngil . Light, matte, powdery patina, coated with kaolin.

These masks were made for ritual purposes, by the exclusively male ngil society, established in northwestern Gabon, southern Cameroon as well as Equatorial Guinea. The ngil was concerned with fighting witchcraft. Its function was also initiation. The ngil was a rite of passage by fire, symbol of purification and embodied by the gorilla. Appearing at night and in large numbers, the wearers of this mask ...

Ex-collection of French African art.

Several variants of Fang Byeri statues make up African art.
Female figure embodying an ancestor, éyéma-o-byeri , with an object of power, surmounting a projecting umbilicus. The voluminous head is strongly eroded: the Fang used to mix grated wood with their therapeutic remedies, which they ritually took from the sculptures. Oiled black patina.
The peoples known as the Fang, or "Pahouins", described as conquering warriors, invaded by successive leaps and bounds, from village to village, the entire vast region between the Sanaga in Cameroon and the Ogooué in Gabon, between the 18th and early 20th centuries.
Deep in their huts, in a dark and often smoky corner, the chiefs of lineages preciously stored their Byéri, the relic ...

Rituals of justice and African masks Fang. Ample concave orbits under a high rounded forehead, imposing olfactory organ, simple incision indicating the mouth discreetly housed in the end of the chin, for this fang mask that has helped to inspire modern artists. Powdery matte patina.

Ex-collection of French African art.
Rituals of justice and African masks Fang. The facial features of this fang mask are underlined up to the gaping, toothed mouth of the lateral extension of a thick fringe of eyebrows. The eyelids coated in red ochre are bordered with perforations for vision, while a significant relief forms the nose.
Dense wood, abraded dry patina. Cracks of desiccation, erosions.
The appearance of these masks coated with kaolin (the white color evokes the power of the ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause fright. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil in the northwest of Gabon, in the south of Cameroon, and in Equatorial Guinea.  This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft.  The ngil was a ...

Pahoune sculpture in African art
Property of a Fang lineage, this high-walled bark receptacle, with two small coves, contained the relics of the ancestors, whose spirit is represented by the figures depicted sitting on the lid. One of the guardians solemnly presents an offering horn. Attributes such as the protruding ventral capsule, the crest cap, the multiple necklaces, and the frequent ornamentation of brass nails, distinguish the tribal statuary of the Fang.Wood samples were taken for ritual purposes. Brilliant mahogany brown skate. In the Fang of Cameroon and those of Gabon, each family has a "Byeri", or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are preserved. These boxes were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". The reliquary boxes were topped with a ...

The tribal art of the Byeri cult is illustrated by various anthropomorphic sculptures acting as 'guardians' and embodying the ancestor. The boxes containing the relics of illustrious ancestors were kept by the oldest man in the village, the esa. Surmounted by a statue or head that acted as the guardian of the 'byeri' boxes, they were stored in a dark corner of the box, supposed to divert evil influences to someone else. They were also used during the initiation ceremonies of young people linked to society. So, so. During the holidays, the statues were separated from their boxes and paraded. Pre-events were carried out on some statues for therapeutic purposes.
This statuette intended to be boxed in a basket-reliquaire by the posterior stalk, has a concave face where the prognathic ...

The African art of the worship of Byeri is illustrated by various anthropomorphic sculptures acting as "garde" and embodying the ancestor. The boxes containing the relics of illustrious ancestors were kept by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". Surmounted by a statue or head that acted as the guardian of the boxes "byeri", they were stored in a dark corner of the box, supposed to divert evil influences to someone else. They were also used during the initiation ceremonies of young people linked to the society " So". During the holidays, the statues were separated from their boxes and paraded. Pre-events were carried out on some statues for therapeutic purposes.
This statuette was intended to be in a basket-reliquaire by the posterior peduncle. Glossy dark patina.
The ...

This African Fang mask illustrates one of the many stylistic variations of the Ngil Fang masks, distinguished by their austere appearance. The face is highlighted with parallel grooves evoking the tribal scarifications in use, and the hairstyle takes up one of the many models worn by the locally abraded bleached Fang.Patine.
The appearance of these masks, usually coated with kaolin (the white color evokes the power of ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause dread. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil which no longer exists today. This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, appeared at night, lit by torches. ...

African fang rituals and masks. Soft wood, velvety patina, granular kaolin residue. Height on a base: 25 cm.
The appearance of these kaolin-coated masks (the white color evokes the power of ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause dread. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil in northwestern Gabon, southern Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.  This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, appeared at night, lit by torches. Their intervention was also linked to the judicial function by identifying the culprits of the bad deeds within the village.  The Fang ethnic group, based in a region stretching from Yaounde in ...

African art and tribal masks linked to justice
The appearance of these kaolin-coated masks (the white color evokes the power of ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause dread. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil which no longer exists today. This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. This African mask was not spared by insects. It remains impressive, with a polychromy that emphasizes its features. He has retained a collar of raffia and wicker on which cotton strips are also tied. A native repair, using a brass leaf, was performed on the abraded inner face. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, appeared at night, lit by torches. Their ...

This ancient African mask was acquired from the Kunst aus Afrika gallery in Germany by a French African art collector. The use of contrasting white patina, of which there are still some traces, and well-preserved light red, distinguishes it from the usually monochrome examples. The criteria that are the high eyebrows in the heart, incisions for the look, small mouth pout in a prognathic chin, allow to classify it as belonging to the African masks of Ngil. An indigenous repair was carried out at the top using a wicker strap. The surface is particularly eroded and testifies to the use that has been made of it. The Fang masks of the associations of So (red antelope) and Ngil (gorilla) providing a judicial function, highlighted by the severity of the protruding eyebrows and the tiny incisions ...

The Fangs of Cameroon and those of Gabon, like the Kota, make abundant use of metal in the statuary.
The hands gathered in front of the bust, this sculpture of the ancestor of the Byeri is equipped with a tenon indicating the umbilical and also features, reinforced by the arch of the eyebrows highlighted by upholstery nails, pupils set with gold metal housed in the face in the heart. The massive, curved lower limbs are covered with a dark-spotted golden patina. Smooth patina, minimal desication cracks.
. Each family has a "Byeri", or reliquary box, in which the bones of the ancestors are preserved. These boxes were guarded by the oldest man in the village, the "esa". The reliquary boxes were surmounted by a statue or head that acted as the custodian of the U-002byeri" boxes. ...

This container has a lid topped with three stylized faces reminiscent of the guardian heads of the byeri reliquary. Three fang figures with protective virtues, arms bent, hands clasped, adorn the walls of the box. Since the reliquary boxes contain the bones of the ancestors are most often made up of bark, this wooden sculpture could also have been used as a medicine container or a box dedicated to divination. The internal walls are lined with residues of yellow ochre vegetable oil.
Geometric patterns and parallel lines are engraved on the matte surface. Desication cracks. Indigenous restorations using metal staples.
The peoples known as Fang, or "Pahouins", described as conquering warriors, invaded in successive leaps, from villages to villages, the entire vast ...

Gabon's Rituals of Justice and African masks. Sunk under a prominent forehead the pupils of this mask print an inflexible character to the face. The prognathic jaw on which the thin mouth is inscribed also gives a determined character. The summit ridge recalls one of the many hairstyles of the Fang.Patine two-tone people, kaolin residue.

The appearance of these kaolin-coated masks (the white color evokes the power of ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause dread. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil in northwestern Gabon, southern Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.  This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The wearers of these masks, always in large ...

Rituals of justice and African masks Fang. Housed under the mass of the forehead, the concave face, stretched, extends from a narrow chin in galoche with a severe pout.

Bois soft, locally abraded grainy dry patina.
The appearance of these kaolin-coated masks (the white color evokes the power of ancestors), in the middle of the night, could cause dread. This type of mask was used by the male society ngil in northwestern Gabon, southern Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea.  This secret society was in charge of initiations and fought against witchcraft. The ngil was a purifying fire rite symbolized by the gorilla. The wearers of these masks, always in large numbers, appeared at night, lit by torches. Their intervention was also linked to the judicial function by identifying the ...

Keepers of reliquary in the African art of Gabon
This male figure with his prestigious head ornaments embodies the spirit of ancestors. The character features a voluminous feather headdress, pearl necklaces, and gold metal sidings reminiscement of traditional scarifications. This tribal sculpture, preserved by the esa, the oldest man in the family, was intended for a reliquary in which the bones of the ancestors were kept. Very present, the tubular element indicating the umbilical symbolizes the filial bond. .
Patine smooth and shiny, light brown nuanced with light grey. br-This type of object was placed in a dark corner of the box. The relics of the most remarkable ancestors were kept in cylindrical bark boxes near the layer of the lineage chief, initiated by the family cult ...