Grasslands Of Cameroon

The Grasslands of Cameroon are organized into several communities, often referred to as kingdoms, because of their highly centralized nature and elements of divine kingship. The Kom Kingdom in Laikom, where this object originated, is the site of the palace where the central authority resides. Because the Kom Kingdom sits on rough, mountainous terrain at an elevation of 1,500 meters, the soil is very fertile, which allows the kingdom to grow a wide variety of crops, but also specific crops indigenous to the area. Due to the elevation, the kingdom holds an important position in the trading network of the northern part of the Grasslands. Palm oil, which grows at lower altitudes, is often traded with iron and kola nuts because these crops grow in abundance at higher altitudes. Trading was an important component in obtaining materials to construct pieces of art as well as providing an explanation for the historical development of the Kom Kingdom. The European presence of trade brought wealth and increased the importance of prestigious materials such as brass, beads, and fabrics to create luxurious objects for the royal kings. Slaves, ivory, and kola nuts were traded north in return for Jukun indigo blue-stenciled cloth, beads, and salt, which are the key materials that the Bowl Figure is made out of. The majority of art from …show more content…
Because beads are seen as a luxury good, their use is still limited to the most powerful communities of Africa, such as the Kom Kingdom. In the lavish area of the Grasslands of Cameroon, objects, such as the Bowl Figure, that belong to the powerful rulers of the kingdom were made into royal symbols through the application of tiny, glass, colored iridescent beads. These beads were not only used for aesthetic purposes, but also to symbolize the king’s wealth, power, and royal