IDNO

T.170001.GIJ

Description

A documentation photograph of an image of an Ekpe skin-covered head mask in profile. The character is called Ajonku. The mask has a face angled outwards towards the mouth and chin. The nose is straight. Three ichi marks are marked out with raised carving from the eye to to the neck. The ears are disc shaped with a grooved lobe shaped ear spool below the temple. The hair is braided in horizontal rows, with possibly a hairpiece? at the back of the neck. There is a a thick necklet carved at the base of the mask from which a patterned cloth extends over the shoulders. [PB 25/08/2023]

Place

W Africa; Nigeria; Cross River; Abiribia town

Cultural Affliation

Igbo [historically Ibo]

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/.

Publication: Image published in Jones, G.I., 1989. Ibo Art. (Pinces Risborough: Shire), fig. 41, p. 51, and captioned as "Ajonku masquerade. Abiribia town. Cross River Ibo. Skin-covered head called Ajonku. Note the ancient Indian cotton print displayed with it." [PB 25/08/2023]