Cameroonian Chamba People Ancestor (?) Figure: "Wurumbu"
Collection: Spiritual Connections
Object Category: Religious Items
Object Type: Ritual Object, Altars
Country: Cameroon
Continent: Africa
Geographic Region: Middle Africa
Materials: Wood
width: 4 in;
height: 15 in;
depth: 4 in
This is a Cameroonian Chamba People ancestor figure, called a "wurumbu." A wurumbu figure is thought to be able to communicate with the spirit world.
The traditional Chamba religion believes in a creator god and ancestor spirits who live with this creator. The god does not interact with living beings, but the ancestor spirits do. They believe the dead continue living, but do so below the ground. The dead are believed to be wiser and have supernatural power. Special people among the Chamba are believed to be able to interact with these ancestral spirits and they are revered by the Chamba people.
Source:
https://discoverafricanart.com/tribes/chamba-people-2/