IDNO

P.71831.GIJ

Description

Ajonku or Ajonkwu masquerade. The masquerader is wearing a knitted net costume which covers his face and on top of his head is a tall headdress consisting of a rounded platform with a cloth wrapped around it and on top, there is a humanistic rounded face which is attached and made of animal skin. The face consists of arched eyebrows, stylistic almond shaped eyes, nose, open mouth and elliptical shaped ears, in the centre of the forehead is a rounded protuberance. The costume is adorned with fronds and feathers. Surrounding the masqueraders are young men holding branches, and in the background are spectators, trees, and building.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Cross River; Northern Bende division

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Isu Ikuru Ato

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.71728.GIJ to P.71831.GIJ were kept in box 14, now numbered C300/.
P.71817.GIJ to P.71831.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C300/4/.

Publication: Same image found in Jones, 1973, Plate 7, p.61 in which the caption reads, “Skin covered head in Cross River Style from Ekpe (Egbo) maskerade of Ohaffia Tribe”.

Context: Jones discusses the different styles of sculpture in the Cross River area. In reference to the mask in this photograph, he writes. “The range of Cross River carvings is striking: their only constant features are the techniques of covering the carvings with skin and the netted fiber costumes. One type is a closely fitted coat (as in this photo), the other consists of closely fitted tights worn by a fierce faceless characters called Egbo runners in in nineteenth century Old Calabar. In the Umuahia area, this Cross River style of heads and costumes is associated with the Ekpe (Egbo) secret society which has spread to many villages under various names (Ekpe, Akang, Okonko, Mbon) (Jones, 1973, p.61).

Context: In reference to the Abam/Ohaffia area, Jones writes that, “Many of their towns and villages had Ekpe (Egbo) masquerades and skin-covered heads in the Cross-River Style, usually called Ajonku. But they also had masquerades of their own with masks carved in local variations of the Lower Niger style. Some of these, although carved for use as a face mask, were actually worn on the actor’s head, for example in the Ngbangba Ikoro masquerade of the Abiriba. All these tribes, but particularly the Abiriba, were great doctors and traders and travelled extensively in the Cross River area and through the Ibibio country to the coastal trading states. Anang (Ibibio) sculpture was greatly admired, but it does not seem to have had much influence on the local styles” (Jones, 1984, p.208)

Context: Cole and Aniakor talk about the skin covered masks and headdresses which were common in the Cross River Area. Through the work of Nicklin, Salmons, Jones and Campbell, some provenances of these masquerades are now being sorted out. It is acknowledged that Ejagham peoples originated the genre, but not often mentioned that Cross River Igbo were also exponents of it, creating some variants that stand as important works of art. Examples are documented from Isu-Item, Bende, Umuahia, Abiribia, Ohafia, Arochukwu, and some north-eastern Igbo peoples, and it is probable that a number of of masks labeled Ekoi are also of Igbo origin. They were danced in the masquerades of men’s societies: Ekpe (Ohuhu-Ngwa), Ikem, Oiyima, Ajonkwu, Ekong, and probably others as well...Jones’ designation of “Cross River Style” for these and other skin covered masks is understandable since the peoples of the region carved for one another in several substyles, traded dances and associations, and thus confounded any but the most broad classifications. (Cole and Aniakor, 1984, p.182). [AF 3/12/2007]

Bibliographical Reference: A brief history is provided by Emmanuel Eze on the website: History, Culture and Politics in Isuikwuato LGA; Emmanuel Eze reporting from Abia
Submitted on 25/07/2005
Isuikwuato is one of the Local Government Areas in Abia state. The name itself means a union of three main components or kindreds as [ikwu] represents in igbo language. It is bounded in the North by by Uturu, in the east by Alayi, to the suoth by Akoli and Mkpa, and to the west by Otanchara and Otanzu. However, the present political structure of Isuikwuato has Uturu as part of it.
The people of Isuikwuato speak Igbo language though with a distinct dialect. The people are quite friendly and hospitable. They are into farming as the area has a large landmass though it is hilly and undulating as per the topography. In addition, they are also businessmen cum women and professionals in different fields. Like all other igbos they are seasoned sojourners and can be found in all parts of Nigeria and beyond.
Owing to the topography of Isuikwuato, there are many rivers cum streams from were the indigenes get their water, the only difficulty being the long distance .
In recent times, the area has come to produce great Academicians and intellectuals one of whom is Dr Chinweizu; Author of Anatomy of Female Power, among others.
There are a number of cultural celebrations such as the Ajonkwu in Ovim[ Ovum], Ebo in Umuobiala and the New Yam festival which is a general festival in Igboland. [Source: nigerianmasses.com, AF 3/12/2007]

Bibliographical Reference:
Jones, G.I. 1973. “Sculpture of the Umuahia Ara of Nigeria” African Arts 6(4):58-63, 96.
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)

This catalogue record has been updated with the support of the Getty Grant Program Two. [Alicia Fentiman 3/12/2007]