Headdress "ngontang" with three faces ·  Gabon, Fang / Tsogho · ID: 3045700

Description

wood, kaolin, missing parts, cracks, insect caused damage

“Ngontang” literally means “young white woman”. Colouring with white kaolin clay is said to be based on the Fang’s belief that supernatural powers are inherent in European and American missionaries, and women in particular. “Ngontang” headdresses are said to have been used specifically to detect witches.

Comparing literature

Perrois, Louis, Arts du Gabon, Paris 1979, ill. 91