Zemanek-Münster

Dance crest "nyamfaik"

Nigeria, Koro
sold EUR 3,800
Provenance
Carl Otto Hultén, Malmö, Sweden (member of the Cobra-Group)
Jo de Buck, Brussels, Belgium
Size
H: 45 cm
H: 17.7 inch

Description

wood, polychrome paint, mass, abrus beans, the rims carved with incised ornaments, min. dam., missing parts (abrus beans), slight traces of abrasion, socle;
the art of the Koro is restricted to zoomorphic wickerwork masks with animal horns and abrus beans and abstract dance crests, painted in black and white and decorated with abrus beans as well. The Koro carve these dance crests for the neighbouring Jaba as well. They are called “ngamdak” (“man with bent legs”) or “nyamfaik” (“guardians of the village Faik”) and perform together two times a year.


Comparing literature

Leuzinger, Elsy, Afrikanische Kunstwerke, Kulturen am Niger II, Zürich 1971, p. 197

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