Tribal Art

Pipe Mumuye (N° 23561)

This prestigious object consists of a copper bowl decorated with decorative motifs, extended by a section in wood carved with a traditional figurative subject, then by a tapered end piece draped in leather. Cat's whiskers, identity scarifications found among the neighboring Chamba, are inscribed on the statuette. Height on base: 54 cm.
The 100,000 Adamawa language speakers form a group called Mumuye and are grouped into villages, dola, divided into two groups: those of fire (tjokwa) relating to blood and the color red, guardians of the cult vabong , among which the chiefs are elected, and those of water, ( tjozoza ), related to humidity and the color white. It is from among the latter that the priests of the rain are chosen, initiates of the vadosong cult. The Mumuye are organized into family groups called dola. Their iagalagana statues were stored in a box, tsafi, reserved for this purpose, while another box, java, housed an individual with magical powers and surrounding himself with ritual objects linked to his function and his prestige.