IDNO

P.73822.GIJ

Description

A masquerade character called Obaji performing in the Okwanku masquerade. The masquerader is wearing a dark wooden round face mask with defined eyebrows, slits for eyes, triangular shaped nose, round pursed, open mouth, long raffia hair with a felt hat on top. he is wearing a printed wrapper around his waist and he is holding a broom in one hand. In the background is another masquerade character, spectators, a thatched building and trees.

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; South Eastern Nigeria; Cross River area; Akanu village

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]; Ohaffia

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.73815.GIJ to P.73888.GIJ were kept in box 9, now numbered C337/.
P.73819.GIJ to P.73824.GIJ were found wrapped in paper, now numbered C337/2/.

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 Ohafia/Abam Igbo
2. Okwanko masquerade, Akanu Ohafia
3. Mask depicting a dibia (healer) (3rd image).

Context: In describing the Cross River style of masquerades, Jones writes that the carvers made both skin-covered and plain wooden heads and masks and looked particularly to the Ibibio for their ideas. Some of the Ohaffia towns had masquerades and masks peculiar to them. In the Akanu town Okwanku masquerade the characters acted together in a comic drama in whihc the character called Dibia (Doctor) poisoned the one called Rain Driver and then brought him back to life again.” (Jones, 1989, p. 61). Interestinly, Jones notes that in this part of Nigeria they do not have rain-makers but specialists who can drive rain away (Jones, 1984, p.209).

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 6/2/2008]