Ngoin Female Mask

Origin: Bamileke Tribe, Cameroon
Composition: wood, pigment stain, vegetable fiber

Ngoin helmet masks from the Grasslands of Cameroon, whoch are so highly esteemed in the west, are the possessions of family associations. An ensemble, which performs at celebrations in honor of important ancestors, can consist of more than 20 masqueraders, who all represent different characters. Two obligitory characters in these ceremonies are kam, the male leader, and ngoin, his wife. These masks never have eye holes, as they are worn atop the head. The hairsyle is reminiscient of a style reserved only for queens (Spirits Speak).