The streets behind and around the Royal Palace are lined with artisan workshops, and the bronze casters are the most impressive. The Bamoun people have practised lost-wax bronze casting for centuries — a technique in which a wax model is encased in clay, the wax melted out, and molten bronze poured in. The resulting sculptures range from small figurines sold to tourists to large ceremonial pieces commissioned for palaces and festivals.
Most workshops welcome visitors who show genuine interest. Watch the pouring process if you happen to arrive at the right moment, or at least examine the raw materials and half-finished pieces on the workbenches. The craft is passed down within families, and the men working in these shops are often second or third generation. Purchasing directly from a workshop rather than from the market stalls usually gets you better quality and ensures more of the money reaches the craftsperson.