The dancers move slowly, heads covered by cloth hoods with long panels hanging down the front and large, round discs on each side. The panels and discs are covered in thousands of glass beads in bold patterns of red, blue, white and black. These are the elephant masks of the Bamileke people of the Cameroon Grassfields, among the most striking beadwork in Africa, and they speak of power, wealth and royal authority.
The Grassfields and beads
The Grassfields of western Cameroon are home to many kingdoms and chiefdoms, including those of the Bamileke and Bamum. The elephant represents strength and royal power. The mask’s long panel suggests the trunk and the round discs the ears. Glass beads, once traded from Europe, were precious and associated with wealth. Covering a mask in beads showed great status.
Kuosi, performances and museums
The masks are associated with the Kuosi society, a powerful association of high-ranking men linked to the king. The masks appear at royal ceremonies, funerals of important people and festivals. Dancers wear elaborate costumes with the masks, including cloth and feathers. Some performers wear leopard skins, another symbol of royal authority. Making a mask requires skilled beadwork, sewn onto a cloth base.
Bamileke elephant masks are held in museums around the world and are highly valued by collectors.
Today and how masks are worn
Masquerades continue in parts of the Grassfields, though fewer than in the past. The Bamileke are known for their kingdoms, art and business success. Their designs inspire contemporary artists and designers. The dancer pulls the cloth hood over the head, with the beaded panel hanging down the chest and back. The round ear discs stand out at the sides of the head. Seen in a group, the masks form a striking line of colour and pattern as the dancers move together.
Colours and royal treasuries
The beadwork often uses triangles and other geometric shapes. Some writers have linked the triangle patterns to the leopard, another royal animal, though meanings vary between kingdoms. Many masks were kept in royal treasuries between ceremonies, alongside thrones, drinking horns and other prestige objects. Access to them was controlled, which added to their importance. An elephant mask carries thousands of beads and a great deal of history. When it appears at a Grassfields ceremony, everyone present knows exactly what kind of power it stands for.
