Union Mask Quiphone, Cameroon

UNION MASK QUIFON

The backgrounds (kings) of Cameroon were not omnipotent rulers, they were influenced by various secret alliances, of which the Quiphone union was the strongest. "Quiphone" means "to carry the king." In the palace of the sovereign, to this day, there are rooms that only members of this union can enter. Some stages of the union are open to everyone, but all the main places are the hereditary advantage of the elite, thanks to its noble family, wealth, or some outstanding talent. The Quiphone union was a counterbalance to the power of the king and was empowered to determine his successors. He owned many cult items and masks. In addition, the union possessed a magical tool, with the help of which the healing of the living was carried out, and the souls of the dead, who could not find peace, were sent to the other world.

Union masks served a variety of purposes during public appearances. Ahead of all was the runner's mask, which notified the people of the appearance of quiphones and warned the uninitiated if dangerous rituals were carried out.

The figure shows an image of an nkoo mask. This is the most dangerous and strongest quiphone mask. The one who was supposed to wear this mask, before the start of the performance, took a means that captured all of his consciousness. The emergence of this mask has always been controlled by healers, who sprayed its wearer with a magical liquid. 

The mask depicts a distorted human face and expresses savagery and belligerence. The huge club underscores this. In the presence of spectators, the mask was held with ropes by two men to protect the people and the wearer of the mask.