Superb Fang Reliquary - Mabea - Cameroon

Superb Fang Mabea Reliquary from Cameroon.
The Fang, present in Cameroon and Gabon, placed great importance on the cult of the ancestors. Each family owned a “Byeri,” a reliquary box intended to preserve the bones of the ancestors. These reliquaries were guarded by the oldest man in the village, called “esa,” guardian of memory and the spiritual protection of the lineage.
The reliquary boxes were often topped with a statue or carved head serving as the guardian of the Byeri. Kept in a dark corner of the house, these figures were meant to avert malevolent influences and ensure the family’s protection.
These sculptures also played an important role during the initiation ceremonies of young men connected to the So society. During feasts and rituals, the statues were separated from the reliquaries and carried in procession, highlighting their sacred dimension and their importance in the Fang’s spiritual and social life.
This work stands out particularly for the use of brass inserts on the body as well as the iron rings worn at the ankles, elements that reinforce both its ritual character and its symbolic prestige.