The father of the current Fon of Babungo created one of the great traditional wooden mask collections in the area. Babungo is about 12 km outside of Ndop down a red dirt road. You can get there for about 500 cfa. The town itself, situated around a very colorful market and the Congo Bar, is a lively little place and the palace is just a little outside of town. When you arrive, one of the Fon's wives will greet you and offer you a tour of the place for 2000 cfa. You might be able to bargain her down. The price is high, but once you get in, you'll probably feel okay about having paid it. It is an amazing collection of masks. Room after room. They even have an African version of Lord Shiva. The current Fon's father made a trip to India was fascinated by the many armed god and had his carvers make an African version. The wife who met us is a very very very hard bargainer. But keep trying and you can get some good bargains.
The current Fon, pictured here, HRH Fon Ndofoa Zofoa III, was a very nice man. We met him in Ndop and he invited us to a ceremony marking the death of an important traditional healer. The ceremony was great and we were very honored to be there as his guest.
This is one of the videos we took.
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