Fang Head - Guardian Reliquary - Byeri. The Fang reliquary is one of the most emblematic forms of African art, originating from the Fang people, who inhabit Gabon, Cameroon, and Equatorial Guinea. The figure was placed on the box/basket containing the relics to protect its sacred contents from the eyes of uninitiated women and boys. The Fang used these relics to maintain a continuous connection with the dead, asking for protection and guidance for the family lineage. These pieces were used in the rituals of the So secret society, where young people received the bones of their ancestors to consolidate social identity and clan cohesion.