BETI culture, southern Cameroon. - Lot 113

BETI culture, southern Cameroon. Sapotaceae seeds (fruit of the Adzap tree). Reunion of nine tokens from the traditional "Abbia" game, diamond-shaped, in adzap walnut shells, cut, polished and carved in champlevé with zoomorphic representations and representations of coveted objects. Early 20th century. 4 x 2 cm (largest). Note: "Concerning the game itself, it is important to emphasize that abbia is a game of chance in which goods are wagered that can range from a simple calabash of palm wine to a human being (woman or child), via the player's livestock, plantations, etc.". Literature: - "L'art des Abbia": a form of sculptural expression from the Pahouin country. Cyrille Bela. - Otto Reche and Paul Messi, 1924. - L'Etude des motifs ABBIA, by Monseigneur Engelbert Mveng.