Janusfaced helmet mask ·  Nigeria, Ejagham/Akparabong · ID: 3036164

Description

wood, animal skin (antelope), dark brown patina, originally provided with single teeth of wooden splinters (broken out apart of three pieces), only remains of the headcrest preserved, dam., missing parts in wood and leather, strong insect caused damage, base;
this mask represents “Tata Agbo” and his wife. All his brothers and sisters had been killed in combat. Only he and his wife remained. Whenever he went to battle, his wife went behind. When he shoots, she loads, till he wins. That is why when “Tata Agbo” died, they made that skin-covered helmet mask as remembrance, that the man was facing the battlefield, the wife was in back, laoding. Military secret society masquerades were performed for mortuary rituals, public seasonal festivals throughout the year, and initation ritual for the age-group organizations.

Expertise

Karl-Ferdinand Schädler, 07.06.2003, Munich, Germany

Comparing literature

Robert Farris Thompson, African Art in Motion, Berkeley 1974, p. 175 Lamp, Frederick (ed.), See the music, hear the dance, Rethinking African Art at the Baltimore Museum of Art, New York 2004, p. 140 f.