Face masks
Carved by Ugbozo Ozooha-Agu (?); Igbo; Nigeria, Udi
Collected by William R. Bascom, 1945
5-16137,
16139, 16184, 16189
Because the Igbo lived in hundreds of independent communities, their art is stylistically diverse and complex. As in many West African societies, masks were formerly used for social regulation and policing, but their use became progressively more secular during the later 20th century. In the north, where these masks come from, ancestral spirits are impersonated in a range of masquerades that portray family members and gender relations. Igbo masks are worn only by men, who belong to age-ranked associations. However, many masks—often those with white faces and fine features—present idealized young women. They are contrasted with other masks depicting the aggression and ugliness of men. These four are from a group of 110 masks carved by a single carver, perhaps assisted by an apprentice. Unfortunately the specific spirit characters represented are not identified in the existing documentation.
(Photograph 2 of 2)
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