24"high by 8"wide by 8"wide
Material: Embroidered cotton & cowrie shells
People: Bamileke
Country: Cameroon
Richly adorned headdresses were worn by both the ëFoní
or chief and by the Fon's eligible warriors that were
members of the "elephant mask society". They were
danced at the funeral of a Fon and at bi-annual meetings.
When danced, the long front beaded panel would swing
thus resembling an elephant's trunk. The elephant was
considered a symbol of force & power for which the Fon
is known. It was believed that the Fon could transform
himself into either an elephant or leopard at will. Every
costume was intended to display wealth, power and
privilege of the Fon.
#MW77
