IDNO

P.71606.GIJ

Description

A masquerade character called Ogbuseyoloalu. The masquerader is dancing and is wearing a wooden face mask which is oval in shape; half of the face is painted white and the other half a darker colour. The eyes are square and framed by arched eyebrows, long nose, and large mouth with a chin that juts out. Attached to the top of the mask is raffia which emulates thick hair. The costume consists of a tie-dyed or batik long sleeved top with seeds or nut attached to it, woven cloth trousers, and a raffia skirt around the waist and a waist band made of shells? or nuts?. The arms are outstretched and in one hand, the masquerader is holding a woven, matt fan. To the left side, is a drummer beating a long cylindrical membrane drum with his hands. In the background are spectators and trees.

Place

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

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Nri Awka

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.71605.GIJ to P.71606.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C301/8/.

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. Ogbuseyolaho Nimo (26th image).

Context: In relation to the style of carving in the Nri Awka area, Jones writes, “ The area that has produced most of the carvings in the Lower Niger style was the Nri/Awka Ibo area of the Onitsha province. Not only masks an figurs, but decorative carvings of all sorts were produced here and in considerable quantity...The number and variety of masks and masquerades was considerable; they were referred to generically as Mau (Ghost) (Jones, 1984, p.142-143).

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 4/12/2007]