Anthropomorphic Namji doll Cameroon around 1970

Anthropomorphic Namji doll (Namchi fertility doll - fetish doll), Cameroon around 1970; Carved wood; hung with an iron ring, a glass pearl necklace, 4 cowrie shells and two Nigerian Kobo coins from 1973 and 1974; great patina; this dolls are carved by young men of Namji (Dowayo) and given as a gift to the girls they admire. If the girl accepts the gift, this is taken as promise to marry; traces of use according to age; measurements: 19,5 x 6,5 cm; provenance „Jürgen Maurer (1939-2018)“, prominent businessman, art collector and chronicler from Heppenheim (Germany) http://www.kunstsammlungmaurer.de