A wooden helmet mask with a broad, flat, disc-like face, large tubular ringed eyes and wing-like ears at the sides. A wide brim surrounds the face, and the head is crowned by an openwork crest of carved lizards.

1. Aesthetic Style and Form

This mask from the Njimem Chiefdom differs clearly from typical Grassfields masks, which are known for their strongly naturalistic faces. The Meshango mask has a flat, almost disc-like head and face form, with large tubular eyes ringed in white standing out from broad, smooth planes. Three small knobs mark the lower centre of the face. Above the face rises a tall crest in which a row of carved lizards forms an openwork cage. According to the collection catalogue, this mask type was rather rare even in earlier times and has not been made for a long time.

2. Use and Context

The collection catalogue describes the Njimem Chiefdom as one of the oldest in the Cameroon Grasslands; the rulers of the Njikoumnjouo dynasty can be traced back by name to the 14th century. The Meshango mask is reserved for the chief to dance in. Its flat face and tall crest would have set the wearer clearly apart from other dancers.

3. Surface and Condition

The mask has a dark, dry patina, and the surface of the wood is worn smooth along the brim and the ridges. Pale rings around the eyes stand out against the dark ground. According to the intermediary Amidou Kouandou, cited in the collection catalogue, most objects of this chiefdom derive from the father or grandfather of the currently reigning chief.

Summary

This Meshango mask combines a flat, disc-like face with tubular ringed eyes and an openwork crest of lizards. It is reserved for the chief to dance in, and the type has not been made for a long time.