Bamileke Kwifo Society

While Bamileke masks and masqueraders may appear in royal festivals, they are normally associated with various men's societies, most of which are ultimately linked to the palace and the King.  The societies are closed to outsiders, and only those who have the authrization to partake in the various activities may do so.  Each society has its own special house, its own masks, costumes, dances and a secret language, and acting on behalf of the king to establish order and to preserve social and religious structures of the kingdom.

One such society if the Kwifo (meaning 'night') society, who acts as a policing force while the king hears complaints and councils his people, carrying out punishments and executions at night.  Acting as the kings agent, the Kwifo also mediates significant conflicts and pronounces sentence in both civil and criminal cases.

Each Kwifo society has a mask which serves as a spokesman and representaive.  Known as Mabu, this mask presents the decrees of the society to the community.  It ushers the members of the Kwifo through the village, alerting the people of the approach of the group, and compelling them to behave appropriately.  Other masks are credited with supernatural strength generated by the 'medicine' of Kwifo, and embody the aggessive and terrifying nature of the society.  Because of the gravity of the events surrounding their arrival, the wearers do not dance.

Kwifo masks are usually worn in groups of anywhere from eight to thirty, accompanied by and orchestra os drums, xylophone and rattles.  When they make special apperances at the burial and commemorative death celebrations of a member of the group, they are viewed with awe and reverence.

The mask large, and helmet-shaped, would be place on top of the head where it is worn at an angle, the masquerader's head would be covered with a cloth through which he would be able to see. The carved headdress alludes to that of a prestige cap worn by kings and high dignitaries, (see below) thus reminding viewers of the importance and high status of this society. The Kwifo society masks are also known to be carved with the earth spider motif (see picture above) which alludes to the awesome power of the ancestors and spirits. 

The hairstyle shown in this kwifo mask is commonly seen among the Bamun, Bamileke and Tikar, and a frequently featured on brass, bronze, and wooded sculpture. This royal headdress is known as The Ndam Tcheu Dop in the Bamenda region, and as Tcho Dung Dung in the Bandjan region of Cameroon. It is the coiffure most commonly reproduced by sculptures when creating their masks and commemorative statues. It's origin is from a royal cap that was worn, the cap was knitted or crocheted from raffia or vegetable fibers. It featured two lobes or prominent lateral sections. It's uniquness comes from the fact that each lobe is spiked with a multitude of tails, bumps, blades, or tiny rolls of cloth, each concealing a slim wooden peg to stiffen it or keep it upright.  

To the right is an example of the afore mentioned cap, collected in the Bali-Nyonga kingdom of Cameroon in 1911. It is believed to have been used by royals in a ritual context during initiation ceremonies and the enthronement of an important individual.