IDNO

P.71597.GIJ

Description

A masquerade character called Ogaranya or (Big Man). The masquerader is standing and carrying a long metal staff on his shoulder. He is wearing a white face mask painted with black markings. The eyes, nose, and lips are bordered in black and there is a large rectangular area on the forehead that is incised with geometric striations and painted black, a necklace adorns the neck area. Carved on the top of the mask is a white sun helmet with a black border and a feather tucked in. The costume is made of a loose batik tunic, baggy woven trousers and additional plaid cloth. In the background are spectators seated ad standing), a thatched hut and trees.

Place

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

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.71597.GIJ to P.71601.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C301/7/.

Context: There was a broad division in many Lower Niger masquerades 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 and gaily decorated headdresses rounded, angular. The number and variety of masks and masquerades [in the Nri/Awka Igbo area of Ontisha province] was considerable: they were referred to generically as Mau (Ghost) (Jones, 1984).

Context: The wide variety of masks in the Nri Akwa area is discussed further. Antelopes, goats, and similar animal spirits were given head masks and those with long muzzles were called Oji Onu (long mouth) or Ulaga. Some animals (for example, Tortoise) were carved as a complete figure which was worn on the actor’s head. There was a range of masks in various shapes, sizes, styles and materials representing comic, stupid, and other human and animal types. There was also faceless characters where the actor’s own face was concealed under a cloth or raffia hood. Some of these were said to be very old and senior, other were abstractions like the spirit called Government or three raffia-covered characters who sang together in thirds and were called Onukamma (the tongue is stronger than the sword). Some of the masks used in Nri-Akwa masquerades were borrowed from elsewhere, mainly from the Ibibio. (Jones, 1989, pp.46-47.)

Bibliographical Reference: Jones, G.I., 1984. The Art of Eastern Nigeria (Cambridge University Press); Jones, G.I. 1989. Ibo Art (Shire).

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 21/11/2007]