IDNO

T.169997.GIJ

Description

Close-up view of a wood and hide mask in the form of a skull of dancer of the Ekkpo-njaur-haur secret society, Ekpo Njawhaw, on display in an exhibition. The mask has black raffia 'hair' and a net that fits over the dancer's head and shoulders.

The mask is now in the care of MAA, reference 1922.1108, and described as: "The mask incorporates wooden skull like head surrounded by black leather flaps, with a straw circle on the top of the head, long black raffia 'hair' and a brown net which must fit over the wearer's head and shoulders"
"represents spirit of underworld, but also shows leprosy of nose" [Description from record 1922.1108, PB 11/07/2024]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Southeast Nigeria

Cultural Affliation

Ibibio; Ekkpo

Named Person

Photographer

Jones, Gwilliam Iwan (known as G.I.)

Collector / Expedition

Date

circa 1930 - 1939; 1984

Collection Name

Jones Collection

Source

Format

Colour Transparency

Primary Documentation

Other Information

T.169937.GIJ - T.170148.GIJ were located together in a Agfa transparency box, now numbered C756/.

MAA Exhibition: The mask is on display in the Nigeria case and captioned: "Ekpo Njaw Mask. Skull-of-dancer mask of the Ekpo Njaw secret society, with black raffia 'hair' and a net that first over the dancer's head and shoulders. Societies held secret meetings in the forest. Some public masquerades were seen as dangerous enough to cause pain or death to onlookers."[ PB 11/07/2024]