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The Craftwork of the Cameroon Grassfields (In Bafut)
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Today’s
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms will be
presented in Bafut,
with subtitles in Arabic,
Aulacese (Vietnamese), Aulacese (Vietnamese),
Chinese, English,
French, German,
Hungarian, Indonesian, Hungarian, Indonesian,
Japanese, Korean,
Mongolian, Persian,
Portuguese, Russian,
Spanish and Thai.
Welcome
gracious viewers to
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms.
Today, we have the
pleasure of introducing
the beautiful handicrafts
and artwork of the
Cameroon Grassfields.
Shaped like
an elongated triangle,
the enchanting land
of Cameroon
is comfortably nestled
in the equatorial belt of
tropical Central Africa,
on the Bight of Biafra.
It covers a total surface
area of 475,440
square kilometers,
with Chad to the north;
Central Africa Republic,
Congo, Gabon
and Equatorial Guinea
to the south;
Nigeria to the west;
and the Gulf of Guinea
(Atlantic Seaboard)
to the south-west.
Cameroon is renowned
for its cordial hospitality
to all visitors,
who find themselves
returning time and again.
With a wide range of
cultural, ethnic, social,
and linguistic diversity,
the nation
is sometimes called
“Africa in miniature.”
The natural landscape
encompasses
a spectrum of mountains,
coastal plains,
savanna stretches,
beaches, lakes, rivers,
hills, plateaus, evergreen
equatorial forests,
thorn bushes, swamps
and marshes,
as well as vast fields
of various types of
agricultural plantations.
Cameroon
has a population of
approximately
19 million people and
the land is divided into
ten different regions.
One of the most
remarkable features of
Cameroon is how
its marvelous ethnic
and cultural diversity is
wonderfully represented
in the realm of
arts and crafts.
The Cameroonian
people’s imagination,
creativity and artistic
ingenuity is very much
evident in their locally
produced heritage items.
Each and every ethnic
group in Cameroon
creates ingenious and
splendid works of art that
reflect the vibrancy of
their ancient traditions.
Be it from the North,
Central or other region
of Cameroon,
one is greatly inspired
when given
the opportunity to admire
the outstanding artwork
meticulously created by
the people of the area.
While there is a wealth
of beautiful handicrafts
made in every region
in Cameroon;
the pieces by artisans
from the Grassfields
of Cameroon
are truly special and
some consider them
the ultimate expression of
the marvellous nature of
traditional Cameroonian
arts and crafts.
In the Grassfields, one
can view an extensive
and magnificent array
of vivid and colorful art
designed to reflect
various features of
the values, traditions
and beliefs of the people.
The Grassfields, also
known as the Grasslands,
is located in
the North-West Region
of Cameroon.
The North-West Region
boasts the second highest
mountain in West Central
Africa, Mount Oku,
and the magnificent
Kilum-Ijim Forest,
an area of land
with an abundance
of biodiversity.
The city of Bamenda
is the capital of
the North-West Region.
Art is an inseparable part
of life in the Cameroon
Grasslands and plays
an essential role
in the local culture.
For example,
some symbols on masks,
clothing and other objects
are not only
aesthetically pleasing
but also serve to indicate
the purpose of an object,
such as the ceremony
it is used with
or the person who
is allowed to use it.
For instance,
an indigo-dyed cloth
or certain beaded objects
should only be worn
by the royal family
or other nobility.
Also, a carved stool
in a council chamber
may only be used by
a designated individual.
Wonderful
artistic traditions
in the Grasslands include
woodworking,
ceramics making,
grass weaving,
and brass work making.
Artisans skilled
in these crafts create
musical instruments,
masks, bags, mats,
baskets, dishes and
traditional chairs,
just to mention a few
of the splendid items
they produce.
An overwhelming
majority of these works
are handmade by
the individual artists who
obtain the raw materials
directly from nature
in a manner that is
environmental sustainable
and thus ensures
continuous availability
of the material.
For instance,
the craft workers
understand that if
care and patience is used
when harvesting
straw grass to make
weaved baskets,
mats and bags,
the plants will quickly
replenish themselves.
Environmentally
sustainable methods
are also used to obtain
raw materials for musical
instruments and ceramics,
thus the artisans live
in perfect harmony
with nature.
The wilds offer natural
resources to them so that
they may express
their vibrant culture
and also earn a living;
and the artisans in turn
respect and help
in the preservation
of the environment.
One organization
helping to promote
the Grasslands art culture
and ensure that it thrives
is Prescraft
(Presbyterian Handicraft
Centre Cameroon).
They are a member of
the World Fair Trade
Organization.
Fair trade items
are consumer products
such as tea, flowers,
cotton goods and handicrafts produced in
an environmentally
friendly manner
by growers and producers
in developing nations
who enjoy decent
working conditions
and receive
fair market value for
the fruits of their work.
Prescraft believes in
encouraging those
artisans it partners with
to practice
sustainable management
of natural resources.
Among the many services
Prescraft offers
include expert advice
and seminars
in craft production,
helping producers to
promote and market their
products, and exposing
local art nationally and
internationally through
its Internet website.
Prescraft Handicraft
Centers allow
craftspeople to
work together using
shared resources to
create their art and
give the opportunity for
experienced workers to
provide apprenticeships
to young people
wishing to learn the trade.
At the Handicraft Center,
Bali-Nyonga
a staff of over 50 artisans
produce carved stools,
relief carvings, woven
chairs and benches,
bamboo items, calabash
items and baskets.
Prescraft is important as
it is helping to preserve
indigenous culture.
The craftspeople of
the North-West Region
have greater pride
in their traditional
livelihoods as well
thanks to Prescraft.
Prescraft operates
four shops to display
the splendid items
produced in
the North-West Region.
After the artisans
make their items,
Prescraft buys them
at a fair price and
sells them to the public
in Bamenda
and other locations.
We will return shortly
and continue
our fascinating look
at the spectacular array
of beautiful art
and craft items from the
Grassfields of Cameroon.
Please stay tuned to
Supreme Master
Television.
Welcome back to
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms for more
on the intriguing art
and craft items
from the Grassfields area
of Cameroon.
Almost all of
the handicrafts produced
in the North-West Region
are exhibited
in cultural museums and
also in the palaces of
the local Fons or kings.
Fons are
the traditional rulers
of the different
ethnic groups in
the North-West Region.
The Fon’s palace
is considered
the cultural hub of
the values and traditions
of his particular
ethnic group.
The Grassfields people of
the North-West Region
have nearly
100 chiefdoms, each
ruled by a divine Fon.
There are various
ceremonies organized
in the Fondoms where
a vast range of
traditional dances and
spectacular displays
of many other cultural
activities may be seen.
As we have seen earlier
in the program,
arts and crafts
play a central role in
every facet of daily life
for the people
of the Grassfields.
A craftwork
which is widely used
in everyday life
is the wooden stool,
which is carved from
one piece of wood and
follows intricate traditions
in both their making
and use.
Certain stools are
only to be used by
certain people only,
such as the Fon, a chief,
a Ma Fo (a powerful
female leader),
or particular nobles.
The royal throne
or stool of a Fon is very
important and even when
he is not seated
on the stool, the object
still represents his power
and thus
is deeply venerated.
Some of the common
symbols that might be
carved on a Fon’s stool
include the elephant,
buffalo, leopard, lion,
and python.
On common stools
that may be bought
in a market, one may find
a carving of a spider
or the cowry shell
which represents wealth,
respect and dignity.
One very important
and highly symbolic
cultural item in
the North-West Region
is the mask.
There are various masks
that express
different aspects
of the local heritage.
For instance, a mask
may represent an animal
or the mask may
emulate a notable person.
What is very special
indeed about the tradition
is that by putting on
a particular mask,
it’s possible
for on-lookers to
tell the tale or story
associated with
such a mask.
There are also certain
dances, such as the Juju
or spirit dances,
whereby the performers
put on various masks
that correspond with
the songs
composed for the dance.
For instance,
if a song about horses
is performed,
it is likely a mask that
relates to this topic
would be donned,
making the appearance
of the dancer
in harmony with
the theme of the dance.
Within the Grasslands
region, there are several
renowned and important
museums to preserve and
share the local heritage.
Some of these are
the Baham Museum,
the Babungo Museum,
the Musa Heritage
Gallery,
the Mankon Museum and
the Museum of Bandjoun.
The Babungo kingdom
was once known as
the hub of iron-related
crafts in Cameroon.
Today,
the Babungo Museum
houses very well
preserved objects
from the rich culture of
the Babungo peoples
such as statues, furniture,
musical instruments,
masks and costumes.
The Musa Heritage
Gallery was named
in memory of
Cameroonian artists
Daniel Musa
and his son, John.
There are over 400 works
in its collection,
ranging from pieces
by the father and son
to other renowned
Grasslands artisans.
The Mankon Museum
displays the cultural and
artistic achievements of
the Kingdom of Mankon.
The artifacts speak
volumes about the culture
of the kingdom and
how it has contributed
to the overall
national heritage.
The Museum
of Bandjoun exhibits
over a hundred important
objects depicting
the cultural heritage of
the Bandjoun people.
On display
in the museum are some
rare and wonderful pieces
of African art
that visitors can see
and appreciate.
To close today’s
program, the people
of the Grasslands
are actively integrating
the arts and crafts
produced in their
homeland into their lives
and take great pride
in preserving
their cultural heritage
as well as supporting
local artisans.
May the wonderful
traditions of
the Grasslands continue
to flourish for the years
to come and beyond.
Cherished viewers,
it was a great pleasure
to have you with us
for this edition of
A Journey through
Aesthetic Realms,
showcasing the
spectacular art and craft
items of the Grasslands
in the North-West Region
of Cameroon.
Up next on
Supreme Master Television
is Vegetarianism:
The Noble Way of Living,
after Noteworthy News.
May our planet be graced
with peace and joy.
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