The Duala people of Cameroon made the mask, sometime before 1908. It is quite typical of Duala masks, which are
often colourful animal heads with horns. It features geometric patterns in bright colours, achieved using paints traded
from Europeans.
For centuries the Duala have lived in close cultural and economic contact with the ocean, estuaries and rivers of
northern Cameroon. This is reflected in this mask which probably shows a dangerous water spirit called Njona which
resembles a buffalo - the Duala consider the buffalo one of the more dangerous animals.
Members of the Duala's male initiation groups, Losango, would have worn the mask. The
masker would have worn it with
a costume at public ceremonies such as funerals.
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