IDNO

P.71559.GIJ

Description

A Mgbedike or Agu neche enyi masquerade with supporters and onlookers. The mask or head-dress consists of a fierce looking face with white v-shaped marking on the forehead, large eyes, pointed nose, over-sized mouth and menacing teeth painted white?, and crescent shaped ears. Protruding (twisted) horns encircle the top of the head in which there is an elaborate superstructure, with animals, horned figures and European or colonial officers (oyibo) dressed in European clothing with pith helmets. There is a painted serpent with its mouth wide open showing its teeth. The bulky costume of the masquerader is made of cloth, the upper body is adorned with leaves? or v-shaped dark material, a belt made of strands of cowrie shells with a metal bell attached, around the waist is a light coloured cloth, and rattles made of seeds around the legs. The masquerader is holding a club? or machete in one hand. In the left hand side of the photograph, a group of male supporters (wearing feathers in their hair) are next to the masquerader playing instruments - two are playing metal gongs, one is holding a fan?. In the background is a large group of onlookers watching the masquerade and behind them are trees and vegetation.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Onitsha province; Nri Awka; Nimo [town]

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]

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.71551.GIJ to P.71563.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C301/3/.

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. Mgbedike or Agu neche Enyi (leopard/elephant) [close-up] Nimo (24th image).

(Similar photograph found in Aniakor and Cole, 1984, p. 130, plate 234)

Context: Jones discusses the various types of masks and mentions that some are quite elaborate superstructures. In particular, “Nrii/Akwa and some other carvers also made emblem head-dresses in which small human figures were grouped together in a tableau, or more elaborate openwork constructions in which human, animal, bird, and reptile forms were intertwined to form a conical structure brought together at the apex by an animal figure whose legs straddled and held it together.” (Jones, 1984, p. 126)

Cole and Aniakor write about the specific characteristics of the Mgbedike or ‘Time of Brave’ masks. These spirit “heads” are large in size, dark coloration; bold outsized figures such as open mouth with large, menacing teeth; and elaborate, integrally carved head-dresses always displaying horns. Their bulky costumes are studded with quills. Many individually named spirits of Mgbedike type exist, their titles crystallizing the character of the spirits....Mystery, aggression, bravado fearlessness, stubbornness, and medicinal power belong to these spirits (Cole and Aniakor, 1984, p. 131)

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)

Murray, K.C. 1948 Ibo Headdresses Combining Human and Animal Features, Man 48 (1): 1-2.

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 22/10/2007]