Anthropomorphic face mask "ngil"
Description
light-weighted wood, formerly painted with white kaolin, small remains of dark brown paint, elongated face with a concave heart-shaped facial plane, unusual coiffure with delicate cut geometrical patterns, unusual above all the missing white paint, slightly dam., minor missing parts;
the typical face painting with white kaolin reminds of the power of the ancestors and implies that the mask represents the spirit of a deceased. The mask figures wore raffia costumes. Their frightening and deterrent effect was enhanced by the fact that they mostly appeared during the night with flaring light. Aside the “ngil” there are the so-called “ngontang” masks, either multi-headed in helmet form or one-faced, called “lo ngon ntân”, which means “head of a white girl” or “dead young girl”. They are said to represent the ghost of the white woman, a powerful spirit, detecting and punishing sorcerers.