IDNO

P.71542.GIJ

Description

A Mau (Ghost) masquerade depicting four masqueraders:
Iro Ekpetu (Merciless). In the background is a mud and thatch building surrounded by trees and vegetation.

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/.

Context: During the Mau or ghost masquerades, there are different characters’ who perform in the masquerade. Jones writes about the division between ‘beautiful’ and ‘ugly’ characters. The former were thought of as beautiful, serene and usually female beings, the latter as dangerous, aggressive and masculine. The beautiful were usually white-faced with black hair an gaily decorated head-dresses. The fierce were black and red. The modes of the former were rounded and angular, those of the latter also included the stylised and occasionally abstract, and the carving often incorporated fangs, horns, beaks and other fearsome animal features (Jones, 1984, p. 139). More specifically in relation to Iro Ekpetu:, 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 (Jones, 1984, p.59).whereas Oji (Eju) Oni (Long Mouth) belonged to the benign or comic animal category. The frontal part of his head mask projected forward as a muzzle or pair of jaws, the middle section carried a high human forehead and a high carinated human nose, occasionally flanked by bulbous eyes; the rear part as finished off with horns or animal ears or more abstract projections. Jones also mentions that some of the characters do not always wear masks, but hey wears netted costumes in which the actor’s head is completely covered and concealed by net but without a mask or headpiece.

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]