Ibrahim Njoya. Three Illustrious Fons and a Queen before the Old Foumban Palace, 1961. Paper, ink, watercolor, carbon; wooden frame carved by the artist, Paper: 78.7 x 96.5 cm (31 x 38 in.). Severance and Greta Millikin Trust, 2022.47. Copyrighted.

Three Illustrious Fons and a Queen before the Old Foumban Palace

1961

Ibrahim Njoya

Ibrahim Njoya (Bamum Kingdom (Cameroonian), c. 1887–1962)

African Art

Three Illustrious Fons and a Queen before the Old Foumban Palace, 1961. Ibrahim Njoya (Bamum Kingdom (Cameroonian), c. 1887–1962). Paper, ink, watercolor, carbon; wooden frame carved by the artist; paper: 78.7 x 96.5 cm (31 x 38 in.). The Cleveland Museum of Art, Severance and Greta Millikin Trust 2022.47 This drawing depicts Sultan Njoya and his ancestors in front of the old Bamum Kingdom palace: King Mbombo “the Giant” (r. 1757–1814); Queen Ngoungore (r. 1863); King Nsa’ngu (r. 1863–1889); and Sultan Njoya (r. 1889–1913). Each past ruler wears or holds elaborate regalia, such as staffs, necklaces, headpieces, and fly whisks. Sultan Njoya (at right) wears a turban and a large embroidered tunic, reflecting his conversion to Islam. The artist Ibrahim Njoya based the portrait of Sultan Ibrahim Njoya (at right) on a photograph.

Original Source

Maker/Artist: Ibrahim Njoya
Classification: Drawing
Formatted Medium: Paper, ink, watercolor, carbon; wooden frame carved by the artist
Medium: paper, ink, watercolor, carbon, wooden, frame, carved, artist
Dimensions: Paper: 78.7 x 96.5 cm (31 x 38 in.)
Inscribed: Inscription: inscriptions below each likeness (French text: 11 Roi Mbombo / 15 Ngoungoure Chetfon/Precesse de Roi Mbombo Mere du Roi Nsangou / 16 Roi Nsangu / 17 Sultan Njoya Ibrahima; Bamum script, to be translated); signed and dated lower right in pen and black ink in French (Bamum script above): Dessinateur/Njoya IbrahimA/20-5-61. Remark: Inscriptions below each likeness (French text: 11 Roi Mbombo / 15 Ngoungoure Chetfon/Precesse de Roi Mbombo Mere du Roi Nsangou / 16 Roi Nsangu / 17 Sultan Njoya Ibrahima; Bamum script, to be translated); signed and dated lower right in pen and black ink in French (Bamum script above): Dessinateur/Njoya IbrahimA/20-5-61.
Departments: African Art
Accession Number: 2022.47
Credit Line: Severance and Greta Millikin Trust
Exhibitions: <em>A Cameroon World: Art and Artifacts from the Caroline and Marshall Mount Collection</em>. Queensborough Community College Art Gallery, Oakland Gardens, NY (October 2007 - February 2008).
Rights Statement: Copyrighted