Mambila Shield (19th century Cameroons)

Palm Fibre and Wood

94.00cm wide    114.00cm high    (37.01 inches wide  44.88 inches high)

Brought back by a Colonial administrator to West and Central Africa between 1928 and 1951.

Shields Africa, Southeast Asia and Oceania from the Collections of the Barbier-Mueller Museum, pub. New York, 2000

This convex, oval shield or Kor is constructed with a double frame of vertical and horizontal supports reinforced down the centre with two 1 1/2 inch (3.75 cm) wooden strips both on the front and back. The kor is tightly woven with natural palm fibre incorporating a darker natural dyed pattern of criss-cross parallel lines and the edges are reinforced with tightly woven reeds. Both the top and bottom of the shield are semi-circular which afforded the user a better view, more freedom of movement and greater flexibility with his weapons.
The name Mambila means men and was given to the tribe, who call themselves Nor, by the Fulani who in the late 19th century raided the Mambila Plateau for slaves as did the Chamba before them.They also took shields as trophies and to trade with neighbouring tribes.