Cameroon
Namji Fertility Doll
Mid 20th century
Accompanied by its certificate of authenticity
Dimensions: 29 x 9 cm / 0.400 Kg
Wood, pearls, cowry shells
The dolls of Namji, a group of mountain animists living in the North of Cameroon, have been known about only recently. These effigies represent the human body in stylized elementary forms. This
anthropomorphic sculpture has a head bearing scarifications, with a neck surrounded by pearls. The rounded bust is covered with pearls all over its surface.
These African tribal dolls are carved in wood by blacksmiths, first and foremost for little girls' games. However, these dolls are mostly used by infertile women in complex fertility rituals: the
doll becomes a substitute child they will treat as such. In some cases the fiance offered it to his future wife, with the doll representing their future offspring. The doll's decoration can also
reproduce the finery of the newly initiated women after their period of isolation.