Mambila Shield with Arrow Motifs

A dark curved panel with painted arrows, dots and blue arcs

This shield with arrow motifs is Mambila, from Cameroon, Central Africa, and dates to the 20th century. It is animal hide & pigment. Shields often served as identification, because most peoples had distinct designs and shapes that friend and foe could recognize from far away, much as flags do, and some patterns indicated rank. A red oval surrounds a black rectangular opening. The paint is chalky and partially worn. It is 22.5 inches wide and 28 high.

The arrows all point up, and none looks worried.