Mask ·  Nigeria, Igala, Dekina District/Kwara State · ID: 3037858

Description

light brown wood, encrusted blackish brown patina, raised temple and cheek scarifications, wooden splinters inserted on top of the head, pierced around the rim, min. dam., small missing parts through insect caused damage, fine cracks, slight traces of abrasion;
the spirits of the ancestors were honoured two times a year, one day in rainy season and one in dry season. During those days, which were called “ote egu” (“water for the spirits”), each mask type of the Igala appeared: ancestor spirit masks, a number of royal masks and zoomorphic masks.