Mask "zakpai"

Description

wood, dark brown paint, thick encrusted sacrificial patina from blood and kola-nut, diadem of black chicken feathers, tubular eyes, vertical forehead scarification, slightly dam., missing parts backside (most of the drilled holes around the rim broken out), socle;
such masks are called runner masks, “running juju”. They are worn by the fastest runner of the village and they only appear in dry season. Their sole function was to control the cooking fire places within the village. They are not dancing nor singing, they are just rumping around with the youngsters of the village.