IDNO

P.71595.GIJ

Description

A group of males referred to as the body guard wearing coats of mail (hardnut shells). There are ten youth, nine of whom are wearing white hats/caps on their head an one youth with feathers in his hair and holding a mask? in one hand and a machete in the other. The other youth are holding sticks and two are carrying gong instruments. The costume consists of a cloth tunic adorned with the shells of hardnuts, white shorts, and a short raffia skirt around the waist; some of them are wearing bands around the knees.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Onitsha province; Nri Awka; Amobia village

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Nri Akwa

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.71587.GIJ to P.71595.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C301/6/.

Context: Jones discusses the variety and diversity of the masks and costumes used in masquerades especially in reference to the Nri Akwa area. “In areas where there was a greater interest in masquerades and a greater variety and number of characters that appeared in them there was some more need to emphasise the distinction between them, and this was done by varying the form and the expression of the masks and heads and this was done by varying the form and expression of the masks and the heads and the shape and details of the costume. Fierce characters were given horrific animal features, beaks, horns fangs and the like, and their costumes were made of materials that were stained or dyed in arresting colours and studded with porcupine quills, the hard shells of nuts or wooden or metal plates. (Jones, 1989, p. 44)

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 20/11/2007]