Kirdi Shield, Cameroon

Northern Cameroon is a country of rocky hills and the people who have held them. The Kirdi, as their lowland neighbors named them, kept their ground for centuries.

Their shield, in this case, is a tall arch of dark, worn material, stippled all over with tiny raised dots, with pale lines radiating out from a central boss like the ribs of an umbrella. Twentieth century, Cameroon. A little under three feet high and not quite a foot and a half wide.

Rust brown, rounded at the top, straight at the hem.

It looks as though it has been in a few arguments.