Ogoni, Nigeria

Female Face Mask. The Ogoni live to the east of the Niger delta, in a fertile area rich in petroleum resources. Despite the efforts of Christian missionaries, they have retained a vital, regionally varied masquerading activity that is in part deeply rooted in their own tradition and in part adopted from neighboring ethnic groups such as the Ibibio or Ijo. Ogoni mask dances serve a great variety of functions, which, depending on the region, can extend from pure entertainment to participation in funeral services and harvest festivals, all the way to the implementation of judicial verdicts. The present example with its movable lower jaw represents a classical type of Ogoni masks. Narrow eye slits and the coiffure indicate a female depiction.

Material:  wood

Size: 11½”x 9”x 5½”