IDNO

P.71544.GIJ

Description

Mau (Ghost) masquerade.

Awo Ohia (Traveller or he who travels through the bush) wearing a striped, netted costume covering the body and head, the netting on the head is black. A rattle is attached to the waist, probably made of seed? or shell?. In the background is a mud walled compound, thatched hut, 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: In some masquerades, not all the actors wore masks or headdresses. Jones discusses that, “in the netted costume the actor’s head was completely covered and concealed by net and he wore no mask or headpiece... in some areas, many of the characters performed vigorous dances which involved mainly stamping and other movements of the feet with rattles attached to the ankles and sometimes also to the waist, which were shaken in time to the drum orchestra.” (Jones, 1984, p.43)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press)

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