Cameroon is a country that speaks a wellspring of life and soul across 200 different languages and is affluent in Africa's cultural and artistic diversity. This is believed to be influenced by the borders of 6 distinguishable African countries - Central African Republic, Chad, The Republic of the Congo, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Nigeria. 

HOW THE CAMERONIAN CRAFTSMAN’S DESIGNS ARE AS EQUALLY DIVERSE AS THE HISTORY OF ITS LOCALS: 

THE BAMILEKE (Ba-mil-eee-ke) 

The Bamileke are a grassland ethnic group that is native to the West of Cameroon. Heritage and legacy play an important role in the decision of the craftsman motifs as the exchanges of art are only announced within the community during traditional ceremonies and solely on how skillfully the artisan reflected the power and importance of their king. A Bamielke craft is known for its distinctive indigo royal textile,  rigid woodworking in sculptures and stools which are often embellished in royal beads and cowries. 

THE TIKAR 

There is no single ethnic group called Tikar as this is a “blanket term” used for several ethnic groups in Cameroon who share the same Bantoid language called Tikar and reside in the Northwestern part of Cameroon mainly in the Tikar Towns of Bankim, Ngambe Tikar and Magba. According to the documented history, Tikar people originated from present-day Sudan and were constructed by two proficient groups. The first group consisted of carpenters and blacksmiths and the second group; who were ancestors of the Fulani tribe were proficient in iron-making and cattle farming. As time passed, the skills of both groups merged into traditional workings that did not fit into the image of African Art as hand-carved woodworkings would be embellished with an inlay of more than four different raw materials types - bronze, brass, clay and stones were most commonly used. Another Tikar Craftsman distinction is that the woodworkings would often be three dimensional with a partly flatlay. 

THE BULU 

The Bulu live in the tropical forest of Southern Cameroon and are closely related to the Fang. Monkeys were adored by the Bulu. Pregnant women were encouraged to eat monkeys meat in hopes that some of the monkeys' physical attributes would be transferred into the newly born in longings for a future of good hunting. Many of the crafts from the Bulu are focused on the combination of both human and lowland animal features. It was believed these sculptures would watch over peoples energies and behaviours in the forest to punish any evil at night. 

THE EKOI 

The Ekoi people of western Cameroon and southern eastern Nigeria believed they were the first heirs of Cameroonian land and were overseen by the council of elders. The Ekoi were known for their comprehensive knowledge of traditional medicine using only herbal and botanical supplements. This knowledge transcended into the Ekoi using plant aesthetics for mural paintings on sanctuaries, dwellings and on pottery. It is said that historically the Ekoi would be commonly known to use human skin from enemies or slaves to cover their wooden masks with the skin but later on, in history, it was luckily changed to antelope hide.  

The saying goes that every journey has a story - A Cameroonian craft does exactly that. There are still a multitude of different stories to be told about Cameroon - the abstractions are endless. We strive to be the home of the distinct history of African culture and hold pieces that are only just a touch. If you are interested in handcrafted Cameroon pieces for your home - Click this link.