what - Cameroon

The Sao are mainly known for their oldest terracottas. The peak of this civilization occurred during the 2nd and 13th centuries, although according to the 14th century B.C. evidence, the first remains with zoomorphic forms began to appear, and from the 10th century AD, the first figures with human anatomical forms, minimally modeled and with roughly sculpted faces, appeared. The bronze figurines, crafted by blacksmiths from the Lake Chad basin using the lost wax technique, are much later and were made by the Kotoko, an ethnic group that currently inhabits the same territories. These small figures were created to honor ancestors and are also believed to possess protective powers, like talismans against diseases. Women also carried these figures as jewelry, which, besides their therapeutic virtues, were particularly effective during possession crises. Their ceramic and metallurgical productions are abundant, especially from the 14th to 16th centuries.


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