A beaded crown of the Oba type, made by the Yoruba of Nigeria. It comes from the legacy of Amidou Kouandou, Grand Imam and notable of ministerial rank in the Sultanate of Foumban, Cameroon, who died in 2014.

1. Provenance

According to the heirs of the late notable Kouandou, the crown was probably a gift from a Yoruba chief who paid a courtesy visit to the Sultanate. This suggests how a piece of Yoruba regalia came to Foumban: as a diplomatic present between rulers rather than as a purchase.

2. Beaded Regalia

The collection catalogue explains the setting. At traditional festivals, the chiefs and dignitaries at the top of the hierarchically organised tribal culture adorn themselves with beaded shirts, capes and hats. Crowns of this kind belong to that world of rank and public display.

3. Craft

The artistic design of such beaded garments is carried out by women, in arduous and time-consuming work. That labour is part of what the crown represents, alongside its role as a sign of rank.

Summary

A Yoruba beaded crown of the Oba type, probably a visiting chief's gift to the Sultanate of Foumban, representing the women's craft of beaded regalia.