Namji Fertility Figure

Doted on like an actual child, this carved doll was once owned by a young girl among the Namji people of northwest Cameroon. Carted around by its owner wherever she went and lovingly adorned with beads or clothes, the figure ensured future fertility. Carved with a characteristically small head and wide body, this figure stands out for its simple sculptural form and detailed facial features. Exploiting the wood’s natural coloring, the artist conceived of the darker portions as the body with the lighter sections resembling garments. The wood has a soft luster especially notable on the nose, burnished by years of loving caresses.