Bio Guera Ricade

There are many interpretations as to what the use of the batôn de commandement was. It was originally thought to be a symbol of power or status. This particular item is a traditional African piece always used by kings. When there was a meeting, the king would carry it on the shoulder. He never spoke, his mouth was covered, but he made decisions using the cane. When he wanted to say yes, he would move the cane up and down and when he wanted to say no, he would move it from left to right. Depending on the ruler, the cane would be decorated with the royal symbol, in this case, the chameleon, symbol of the Wasangari prince Bio Guerra, who opposed the white colonialism in Africa during the 19th Century.