Elephant spirit mask "ogbodo enyi" ·  Nigeria, Izzi · ID: 3041195

Description

wood, distinctive painting in black and white, schematized elephant head, separate carved conical eyes, dam., cracks, missing parts, traces of insect caused damage, abrasion of paint;
in former times this mask type, which always showed an aggressive and violent behavior, controlled the social order, but nowadays they exclusively appear for entertainment. The holes at the lower rim served for attachment of raphia fibres covering the head of the dancer, who wore a long costume made of plaited plant fibres.

Comparing literature

Hahner-Herzog, Iris, Das Zweite Gesicht, Genf, München, New York 1997, ill. 55