Anthropomorphic dance crest ·  Nigeria, Cross River, Boki (Ekoi Complex) · ID: 3051729

Description

wood, hide, pigments, basketry,

The Ekoi (Ejagham) are credited with being the first to have made and
danced with leather-covered headdresses. From them, this custom is said
to have spread throughout the Cross River area, and thus to have been
adopted by the Boki.

The headdresses were the property of various societies, of which the “ngbe” - leopard secret society is probably the best known and mostly widespread association in the Cross River area. “Ngbe” was an all-male society that probably once originated from an association of warriors.

The object Anthropomorphic dance crest with the object ID 3051729 was last part of the auction Auction 104 at April 12, 2025 on Zemanek-Münster Auction house. The object with the lot number 242 achieved a sales price of EUR 500.

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