RITUAL TAM-TAM
War Tam-Tam
Bamoun. Wood, hide, patina. H: 44.5in/113 cm
Provenance: Sculptor Nji Danu Ousseni; Ex Philippe J. Barash Collection
This rare Tam-Tam was carved from a single massive tree, covered with a tanned hide, and finished with a protective patina. The images embellishing the drum represent guardians of the Royal Palace as well as members of the kingdom’s secret society.
King Seidou ordered the creation of this royal drum in 1970. The task of sculpting the piece was delegated to a gifted craftsman, Nji Dagnu Ousseni, one of the high nobles seated on the king’s secret Nguon society in Foumban.
The drum was one of five royal drums used in formal ceremonies held in the Royal Palace. Traditionally, when the king beat the drum, he was signaling to his subjects to gather and prepare for war, which would be launched in the coming weeks. When used as a war Tam-Tam to celebrate military exploits or to prepare for war, the drum was called L’En.
When used for other celebrations, an established dance ritual typically governed its use. Following the dimming of external and internal lights in the Palace at the setting of the sun, a steady drumming of the Tam-Tam ushered members of the secret society—the possessors of Nguon secrets—into the Palace. The lights were raised once members of the secret society had entered the Palace. Other than them, only village twins were allowed to attend the ceremony, where they received lessons and communal messages from the notables. Additional instruments joined the Tam-Tam to lead the dancing throughout the night. Through these rituals, all evil spirits were chased away and the Palace was purified.
Chief Mongbet Vessah Ibrahim and David W. Reed
