African mask

Ethnicity : Eket

REF: EKT03

Importation: nigéria

Size 15X15cm

Weight : 800Gr

Characteristics of eket :

The ekpo society uses several types of masks, among them polychrome panel-masks, unique in Africa, consisting of two panels, one supported by the other at the top. There are also round masks for the yam and yam harvest festival, characterized by a moon shape or consisting of two disks superimposed or a single one topped by an anthropomorphic head. The idiong society is an organization of diviners, who often are also members of the ekpo society. Their oval masks are very characteristic, with eyes pierced in a crescent moon shape and frontal bands in the shape of a ring. These bands are reminiscent of the palm fiber or goatskin crowns, which every new initiate received. Another association, called econg after the god of war, uses marionettes in its ceremonies. The ogbom society celebrated Isong, the goddess of the earth, spouse of the god of heaven and source of fertility and fecundity among humans, animals, and plants. In the great ogbom masquerades, the tops of the headdresses formed figures that stand as high as 30”. The details of the ogbom cult and masquerade are not well known.