The art of the Bambui Kingdom (Western Grassfields, Cameroon)

Abstract

Unlike previous studies that have been undertaken on the art and material culture of the western Grassfields, this book is particularly significant because it is the first of its kind in terms of the artistic and cultural heritage of the Bambui Fondom. Of course, there are features common to all the fondoms of the Cameroon Grassfields that allow us to describe the entire region as a distinct cultural and art-producing area, with the possibility that Bambui has nothing new to offer. But there are also reasons to believe that Bambui has a lot to offer, especially considering the level of misinformation sometimes encountered in the literature. As Geary (1987, 43) has pointed out, catchwords such as kingship, palace, secret societies, retainers, and hierarchy that are normally taken for granted and applied as meaning the same thing across the Grassfields, can only be fully understood if the particular context is elucidated. This book addresses the problem of misinformation and the generalising approach in Grassfields artistic studies by presenting a detailed study of the artistic and cultural heritage of one ethnic group, the Bambui Fondom. It is intended especially for young scholars and museum staff as well as for African art lovers.