Illness or deformation mask "idiok ekpo"

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Description

wood, slightly encrusted patina, remains of paint, slit-like hole instead of a nose, pierced around the rim, traces of insect caused damage and abrasion;
used to be danced at masquerades of the “ekpo” society, depicting people suffering of untreated leprosy, gangosa, syphilitic lesions, or mucosal leishmaniasis.

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Comparing literature

Schädler, Karl-Ferdinand, Götter - Geister - Ahnen, München 1992, p. 144 f.

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