Elephant Mask

Minneapolis Institute of Art

Elephant Mask

Bamileke artistLinkedCulture matchlcp-ed5e62f6c082

Date
c. 1900
Medium
Indigo-dyed cotton, glass beads, natural fibers
Culture
Bamileke
Department
Arts of Global Africa
Institution
Minneapolis Institute of Art
Object ID
4684

From the Minneapolis Institute of Art record

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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Provenance & credit

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Credit line
The Christina N. and Swan J. Turnblad Memorial Fund

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