IDNO

P.71540.GIJ

Description

A mau (ghost)masquerade which shows a frontal view of Iro Ekpetu (‘Merciless’). The masquerader is standing in the centre of the compound with his arms stretched out, wearing a fierce-looking black carved mask with incised decorative design along the lower forehead, white? painted eyes, pointed nose, bulging mouth with protruding teeth painted ?white, and a cloth top, trousers and a raffia skirt tied around the waist. The masquerader is holding a stick in the left hand. Behind the masquerader is a walled compound with mud huts and thatched roofs, trees and vegetation.

Place

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

Cultural Affliation

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/.

Context: Jones describes a masquerade performance in Amobia in which there were many different characters and one of the masqueraders was a black fierce and masculine creature with masks that combined animal and human features (p.59).

Aniakor and Cole discuss the differences between beauty and beast; good and bad etc.

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)Cole, H. & C. Aniakor, 1984. Igbo Arts: Community and Cosmos (Museum of Cultural History, University of California)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 18/10/2007]