Fang Cap Mask

The Fang are located in Central Africa.
There are about 500,000 in Gabon, and 600,000 in Equatorial Guinea.
There are also minority Fang in Cameroon, Congo-Brazzaville and Sao Tome and Principe.
This fine piece Fang Cap Mask, known as “cap mask” because of a very specific hairdo, is a dancing mask
and is not connected to the Ngil secret society.
The white color (kaolin) evokes the spirit of an ancestor.
Despites a rich and diverse culture, sadly, what is mostly known is the “Ngil” with very specific long faced masks.
The Ngil is regarded as an inquisitional secret society gathering at night to execute sorcerers and witches. It was banned early XXth century by the colonial authorities.