Headdress "ekeleke" ·  Nigeria, Igbo · ID: 3035958

Description

wood, blackish brown paint, kaoliin, the extreme long neck partly coated with bands of plaited grass fibre strands, narrow head with projecting bow-shaped coiffure, drilled holes for attachment at the lower rim, dam. (eyes, nose), crack (coiffure), abrasion of paint, base;
“ekeleke” is a festival honoring water spirits “owu”. It is a finely choreographed performance by several men wearing similar headdresses, imported lace-like cloth head coverings and skirts or wrappers of Indian madras cloth. Virtuosic individual dances alternate with sets danced in unison, activated by a small gong and a drum orchestra playing on the sidelines. Because the dancers wear long-necked carvings rising at least 75 centimeters over their heads and stilts about 50 centimeters high, the masquerade has an imposing and stately character. But despite of this the performances are essentially secular entertainments.

Comparing literature

Ross, Doran H. (ed.), Visions of Africa, Los Angeles1994, p. 91 Cole, Herbert M. & Chike C. Aniakor, Chike, Igbo Arts, Los Angeles 1984, p. 205