Male figure

Undetermined artist · Early 19th century

This masterpiece of Grassfields carving has an unusually emotional expression, which may be associated with the personal style of Bvu Kwam, an early-19th-century master sculptor. According to one field informant, the figure is of King Bay Akiy, the fourth ruler of the Isu kingdom, who reigned in the late 18th century. Depicted returning from victory over the Nshe, a neighboring group, he is seated on a dangerous animal, probably a leopard, and holds a weapon and his enemy's head. This pose relates to a regional tradition of representing personal achievement.