The Benedictine Museum of Mont-Febe (suite) 2

On the other hand. could they be older? Generally the Tikar's and the Bamoun's artistical creations seem to have weakened after NJOYA's death, he was a great patron of arts. So the question is where are these objects dating back to? Are they copies? If so, where are the originals?

Anyway. it is true to say that the objects of this museum are of a rare technique and a rare beauty, so they may be ancien. Just as remarkable as these bronze objects are the pipes.

What do you think of these objects besides of their technical and esthetic qualities?

We learn a lot about the Tikar, the Bamoun and particularly the Bamileke populations through these objects. The masks, the statues. the pipes found in this museum reflect their believes, their spirituality, their social organisation and their techniques.

We may question the significance of such an enterprise in a Benedictine monastary. The first intention of the Fathers was to collect and contemplate the art objects from Camerounese people to get closer to them, just as they get closer to the Creator through his creatures, to discover his soul.

As in Africa almost all artistical works were devoted to the traditional cults il was quite easy to discover their profound secret and their spiritual and religious meanings. How not think about African art's eventual integration in the Christian cult when taking into consideration the worship, ancestors, nature and life? Father OMER asked himself.