IDNO

P.71535.GIJ

Description

Obugulu Mau (Ghost) masquerade.

Close up portrait of a masquerader, Egu Agu, (‘Money Finish’) , wearing a helmet mask with a superstructure decorated with cloth and tassles, and brightly coloured harlequin-like costume. Cloth cloak tied around the neck, over ?woven or ?net cloth which is attached to the mask. Male onlookers to the right.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Ontisha Province; near Awka; Amuda village

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Isuochi

Named Person

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1930 - 1939

Collection Name

Jones collection

Source

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Format

Print Black & White

Primary Documentation

Other Information

P.71504.GIJ to P.71662.GIJ were kept in box 4, now numbered C301/.
P.71531.GIJ to P.71546.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C301/2/.

Publication: Same image published on John McCall’s G.I. Jones website with the following information: [Source: www.siu.edu/~anthro/mccall/jones/, AF ]
1. Index to Nsukka and Nri/Awka Igbo
2. Nri-Awka Igbo
3. Ego Ago (money finish) Mmau masquerade, Amuda village, Isu Ochi (1st image).

Context: The number and variety of masks and masquerades [in the Nri/Awka Igbo area of Ontisha province] was considerable: they were referred to generically as Mau (Ghost) and one of the more recent was Obugulu Mau, in wihc the characters were a grandmother, a mother, and a number of daughter masks attired in bright harliquin-like tights and wearing helmet masks or masks with a head-dress made up of a superstructure of wire and cane covered in brightly coloured wools or streamers to which cloth or wooden figures were attached.” (Jones,1984: 143)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 17/10/2007]