Fang Ngontang mask
In the Fang tradition, an important and highly reputed ethnic group in Gabon, the Ngil was a rite of social regulation.
This is an African ngontang mask with a curved face in the shape of a heart.
The musée du quai Branly indicates in its work "Native forests", Actes Sud:
"His followers used anonymous human bones as magical ingredients in court trials and in the fight against witchcraft.
The group, formed as a militia, went from village to village, at the request and at the expense of sponsors, on the occasion, for example, of an unexplained death or suspicion of bewitchment.
The rite consisted above all in scaring those who would have had evil intentions or who would have secretly kept forbidden "fetishes", in particular by the spectacular manifestation of the mask, at nightfall.
Having caused disturbances in villages as a result of abuse by its followers, the Ngil was gradually banned by the French colonial administration around 1920.
Ngontang masks seem to come from a long sculptural tradition, but their precise symbolism is unfortunately lost.
Their role was to discover, as entities emanating from the spirit world capable of seeing everything, the evil wizards.
02286
Data sheet
- Presumed dating
- 20th c.
- Size
- 23 cm (43 with support)
- Ethnic group
- Material(s)
- Wood
- Country
- Origin
- Tribal art collection Switzerland
- Stand
- Included
- Condition
- Excellent
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In the Fang tradition, an important and highly reputed ethnic group in Gabon, the Ngil was a rite of social regulation.
This is an African ngontang mask with a curved face in the shape of a heart.
The musée du quai Branly indicates in its work "Native forests", Actes Sud:
"His followers used anonymous human bones as magical ingredients in court trials and in the fight against witchcraft.
The group, formed as a militia, went from village to village, at the request and at the expense of sponsors, on the occasion, for example, of an unexplained death or suspicion of bewitchment.
The rite consisted above all in scaring those who would have had evil intentions or who would have secretly kept forbidden "fetishes", in particular by the spectacular manifestation of the mask, at nightfall.
Having caused disturbances in villages as a result of abuse by its followers, the Ngil was gradually banned by the French colonial administration around 1920.
Ngontang masks seem to come from a long sculptural tradition, but their precise symbolism is unfortunately lost.
Their role was to discover, as entities emanating from the spirit world capable of seeing everything, the evil wizards.