Female Helmet Crest Mask, Ngoin
White, Bruce M.
Masks from the Cameroon Grassfields were owned by either the men's regulatory society (Kwifoyn) that shared power with the king (Fon), or by lineage groups authorized by the Kwifoyn to perform. Although all masked dancers in the Grassfields are male, they may represent either male or female characters. This mask represents Ngoin, the royal wife and a symbol of womanhood. The mask can be identified by the royal headdress that has an almond or oval-shaped protruberance at the top and a wavy or zigzag hairline. Ngoin dances with short, restrained steps to mark her royal presence.
Primary Repository ID
MCCM_1994-004-233
System of Record ID
1994.004.233
Title
Female Helmet Crest Mask, Ngoin
Date Created
1850 – 1999
Description
Masks from the Cameroon Grassfields were owned by either the men's regulatory society (Kwifoyn) that shared power with the king (Fon), or by lineage groups authorized by the Kwifoyn to perform. Although all masked dancers in the Grassfields are male, they may represent either male or female characters. This mask represents Ngoin, the royal wife and a symbol of womanhood. The mask can be identified by the royal headdress that has an almond or oval-shaped protruberance at the top and a wavy or zigzag hairline. Ngoin dances with short, restrained steps to mark her royal presence.
Creator
White, Bruce M.
Subject - Topic/Names
Kom (African people)
Art, Kom
Subject - Geographic
Cameroon
Africa
Subject - Time Period
Nineteenth century
Twentieth century
Extent/Dimensions
36 x 25.5 x 26 cm
Content Type
Artifact
Content Genre
masks (costume)
Source
African Art
Rights Statement
Copyright declaration applies to digital photographs and not the items depicted in them.
Rights Holder
Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University
Copyright Date
2006
Institution
Emory University
Holding Repository
Michael C. Carlos Museum
Sort Date
1850
