Many skillful Cameroon wood carvers created some wonderfully powerful wooden art - especially their ceremonial masks.

Central Africa: Cameroon - Bamum People

Beaded Figure photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct ~ more photos ~ full-length front/back close up of face

Beaded Figure - Bamum Elizabeth Bennett describes this figure: "Cameroon Beaded Figure - Bamum: See a similar example in Gebauer's ART OF CAMEROON. 'The Bamum of the nineteenth century experienced an unusual degree of prosperity which often expressed itself in ... objects.' Figure is just over 15 inches tall, carved of wood, covered with beads."

Central Africa: Cameroon - Fali People

Fali "ham pilu" doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Fali carved beaded "ham pilu" doll from the Cameroon  Elizabeth Bennett describes her doll: A superb piece, with old British West African coins used to hold the cowry shell arms and legs in place with the hair still in place. A good example of this rare doll can be seen on the cover of the book, ISN'T S/HE A DOLL, PLAY AND RITUAL IN AFRICAN SCULPTURE, put out by UCLA's Fowler Museum of Cultural History.  From the book ISN'T S/HE A DOLL, PLAY AND RITUAL IN AFRICAN SCULPTURE: "In Cameroon, when a young Fali man becomes betrothed, he makes a doll (ham pilu) from wood and decorates it with hair, beads, and other small objects. He then gives it to his fiancee, who wears it in a baby carrier on her back. The doll is a symbol of their marriage commitment and represents their future child. The man gives the doll the gender that he desires for his first-born. The young woman cares for the figure until the promised child is born; at this point, the couple carefully stores the doll away."

Central Africa: Cameroon - Namchi People

"Namchi dolls - Among the Namchi people of Cameroon, unadorned dolls made by blacksmiths are played with by young children. When beads, bells, coins, and other ornaments are added, however, the doll becomes a surrogate baby for a woman who is having difficulty getting pregnant. The woman treats the figure like a baby, feeding it and carrying it on her back."

from ISN'T S/HE A DOLL-PLAY AND RITUAL IN AFRICAN SCULPTURE by Cameron, published by the Fowler Museum-UCLA

Namchi Doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Namchi doll from the Cameroon Elizabeth Bennett states, "Fetish packets and long earrings ornament this beauty."

Beaded Namchi Doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Old Beaded Namchi doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Old Beaded Namchi doll from the Cameroon Elizabeth Bennett states: I collect these as well as sell them -- got two like this one, and the other one is in my personal collection. A STUNNING piece.

decorative carving featuring a Namchi Doll photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Namchi doll mounted on face, Cameroon  Height is 16 inches. Doll has fabric fetish packet around torso, and old blue goomba and white prosser trade beads.

Central Africa: Cameroon - Pygmy People

Pygmy figure - a child's stool photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Pygmy figure- a child's stool from the Cameroon Elizabeth Bennett describes this doll/stool: This figure has a real extraterrestrial look reminiscent of "ET". Hand-woven cord around neck and waist, hands on chest, prominent umbilicus - a little boy stool. Height is 11 inches.

Central Africa: Chad
Peoples: Bagirmi, and Koto

I hope to have some examples from this region soon

Central Africa: Congo, Zaire, Angola
A list of ethnic cultures, mainly from Zaire from Canadian Museum of Civilization (CMC). These include:

• the Kongo, who inhabit the region of Lower Zaire;
• the Kuba, whose traditions date back to the seventeenth century;
• the Luba, who formed until the end of the nineteenth century, a kingdom encompassing a number of more or less autonomous chiefdoms under the authority of a sacred king;
• the Lega, who live in the rain forest of eastern Zaire; the Zombo, Nkanu, Mbala, Yaka and Suku, and Pende who live in the so- called Kwango region;
• the Tshokwe, who originally inhabited North Angola and who in the mid-1800s began to emigrate towards the north and northwest, appropriating vast territories and crossing the present border between Angola and Zaire;
• the Ovimbundu, who live in Angola's Benguela plateau; and
• the Luluwa, who live between the Kasai and Luluwa rivers.

Central Africa: Zaire - Pende
Central Pende of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (formerly Zaire)
The Pende people are best known for their fabulous masks used to represent the spirit of an ancestor.
 

Pende doll Thanks to the Sherwood Collection

This doll is embellished with feathers, a grass skirt, an amulet necklace.  The collector stated that the Pende tribe originated in Angola, but had to move into Zaire in the Kwilu-Kwango region. They were once leaders in many arts.  This collector also said that she has not seen another quite like this African carving. Most African carvings show their age fairly rapidly. This one is in very good condition so it is not likely very old.

Central Africa: Zaire - Yaka People

Ancestor worship and elder adoration was central to the lives of the Yaka people. Although this was a matrilineal society, it was a male dominated culture where women were often forbidden in sacred areas and ceremonies only privy to male secret socieity members.

more about the Yaka people from the University of Iowa
 

Yaka Fetish photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Yaka Fetish - Yaka People, Zaire, Africa I need to research this one. Can you sare some information about this figure? Please contact Jean Lotz.

Central Africa: Nigeria
Eket (Bantu), Ibibio, Igbo, Kanuri, Waja, Yoruba peoples

Central Africa: Nigeria - Yoruba People

Yoruba Ibeji Thanks to the Sherwood Collection

Yoruba - Ere Ibeji Dolls Twin figures (ere ibeji) were memorial figures that were carved upon the death of one or both twins. These figures are kept, "fed", washed, clothed and cared for by the mother as if they were still living. This was done to ward off misfortune for the surviving children and to provide some comfort to the grieving mother. See "AFRICAN TRIBAL IMAGES" by William Fagg.

 

12" Ibeji Twins from Nigeria  photo thanks to G.F. Glaeve Glaeve Gallery

Central Africa: Nigeria - Eket People

The Eket are a subgroup of the Ibibio people speaking Eket (a Bantu language). Ibibio have lived in the Cross River area of Nigeria for hundreds of years. As well as ancestor worship, Eket people believe in Ala, the earth deity, and pay homage to this goddess in the Ogbom ceremony in hopes to make children plentiful and to increase the harvest. Young males of the Ogbom secret society performed in costume dancing in honor of Ala.

More about the Eket people from The University of Iowa
 

Eket hand mask / hand puppet photo thanks to Elizabeth Bennett Africa Direct

Eket Hand Mask / Hand Puppet from Southeastern Nigeria