This striking ivory figure of a standing monkey and her child was made by the Bamun, one of the groups of the Grasslands of Cameroon. It is very skilfully rendered, with a pot belly, flexed legs, long arms and a startled-looking face with a grimace, pierced eyes/nostrils and large ears. The child stands to the figure’s right side, and rests an arm on her back. Given its appearance and the location from which it comes, it may in fact be a representation of a chimpanzee.
The Bamun are one of various Bantu-speaking groups who migrated into the high Grasslands plateau of the Cameroons prior to the 17th century in order to avoid the Fula invasion of the Adamawa Plateau. Their society is largely agricultural, and village units are based around large agrarian plots that are technically owned by the fon (king) who is accorded political, economic and spiritual powers over the populace. His power is balanced by a council of nobles known as the Kamveu, and he is personally influenced by his mother, the Mafo.
The Bamun are believe in Christian, Islamic and animist religions according to area. The latter still produce paraphernalia to assist them in ancestor worship, which is achieved through retention and spiritual manipulation of their forefather’s skulls. Health is maintained through traditional medicine, while they also use a divination method similar to that of the Baule mouse oracle, but involving a spider. Most of their large sculptures represent members of the royal family and their antecedents, and were usually displayed in a court context and during ceremonies to manifest the Fon’s authority.
Pieces made from ivory are invariably prestige objects in African society, and while the precise meaning of the monkey/chimpanzee is uncertain, it was certainly a socially important object. Other groups believe the monkey to be a mischievous and wise creature (Bamana) or the incarnation of a defending spirit (Baule). This is an amusing and attractive piece of African art.
