Beautiful old mask of leader "kam"
Kurt Egger(t), Heidelberg, Germany
Michael Vignold, Cologne, Germany (2007)
Description
wood, black patina, typical male face, indicated by hairdress and beard, prominent ears, large eyes with bulging pupils, open mouth carved with a row of teeth, slightly dam., minor missing parts (beard, backside along rim), abrasion of paint, min. remains of plantfibre for attachment of a costume on the backside, metal base;
in the northwestern area of the Cameroon grassfields every village and every town has their own group of “juju” dancers. They perform at death celebrations and at festivities in honour of the ancestors. The leader of such a “juju” group wears a mask like the present, which is called “kam”, “nkam” or “akam” mask. The masks are worn flat on the head of the dancer, who always has to bend forward, so that the mask face can look at the spectators. The dancer wears a long garment and two staffs, emblems of strength and authority.
On the occasion of a death celebration, they prepare and dress in the seclusion of a house specifically allotted to this purpose. Preparation includes food and drink for the dancers and renewal of the masks by applications of camwood powder or oil and other substances perceived as potent. “Kams” exalted position is emphasized by the offering of a chicken sacrifice. He also must be danced by an important lineage member and is carried to and from in his own special bag. As the principal mask of the “juju”, which carries additional medicines and controls the other masks, its importance was occasionally compared to the position of the head of the family.