African Fine Arts - AFRICAN-ART

Babanki Elephant Mask - Cameroon Grasslands
Most of the wooden masks from the Cameroon Grasslands now in western collections were once in the possession of individual lineages. These lineage masks include both anthropomorphic and zoomorphic types, the latter representing such animals as buffaloes, apes, sheep and various species of birds. Elephant masks are only occasionally included in this group, since the elephant, like the leopard, is considered a royal animal and the use of an elephant mask is therefore the special privilege of certain lineages. Whenever an elephant masquerader is present, he assumes the second most important position after the human kam masquerader. The elephant figure is the first to appear on the dance ground and the last to leave it, and in accordance with his status, his movements are stately and slow. The elephant mask is worn horizontally on the head and can be classified in the well-known Babanki style of the northwestern Grasslands.