Bamoun Royal Throne Statue, Cameroon. c. 1960

This throne was used by a local king “Fon” from a district of Njimom village, the place where the kingdom of Bamoun was founded, which is a mystical and religious place for the Bamoun. Upon his death, one of his sons replaced him as “Fon” and inherited this throne. The connection between the throne and power is special when the throne incorporates a figure. In the kingdoms of Cameroon, each kingdom has its “treasure” in which ritual goods are kept, of different sizes and filled with insignia, weapons and sculptures. The bright colours of the beads are obtained by polishing them to the maximum and combining them to produce greater impact of contrast. The Bamoun in the north-east of the savannah region, is an artist who has used tens of thousands of beads and cowries, with unmatched fluidity and subtlety. These expensive and elaborate bead and cowrie works are the prerogative or gift of Fon himself. Height: 152 cm. Reproduced from the catalogue “Africa Babel: the Art of a Continent”, page 20.
 
Exhibitions:
2022-2024 Island of Fuerteventura “Art Africa: Ancestral Light”. Lighthouse of the Entallada. Cabildo of Fuerteventura.
2021-2022 Panama City. Government of Panama. “Art Africa: the spirit of the ancestors”. Ministry of Culture Headquarters. Casco Viejo.
2019-2020 Santa Cruz de Tenerife. Caja Canarias Foundation. “Africa-Babel: the art of a Continent”. Headquarters Plaza Patriotismo.
2013-2015 Museum of Art of Africa and Oceania (Madao). La Granja de San Ildefonso, Segovia.
2005 “Black Africa”, Leather Museum.
2004 “Black Africa”. Caixa Laietana Foundation, Barcelona. Main exhibition hall