Minneapolis Institute of Art

Elephant Mask

Bamileke artist

Date

c. 1900

Medium

Indigo-dyed cotton, glass beads, natural fibers

Culture

Bamileke

Department

Arts of Global Africa

Institution

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Elephant masks belong to members of the Kuosi society, a secret society of the Bamileke of Cameroon that maintains the political and social order of the kingdom. Membership of the Kuosi society includes royalty and wealthy title-holders, as well as men of warrior status. It is considered a great privilege to wear an elephant mask as it symbolizes force and strength. The Kuosi society performs ceremonies in the elephant masks and other regalia biannually and at the death of one of their members. Africa

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