Igbo Mask

$400.00

Igbo are a tribe from Nigeria and their language is from the Kwa language family just like the Yoruba tribe. As a matter of fact, the neighbors of the Igbo are the Yoruba tribe and they share similar beliefs in their culture. The Yoruba and Igbo share the same history as being traded as slaves to the new world. They are from the tropical forest ranging from the rainy coastal forest in the south to the savanna grasslands in the north. They live in villages or in large groups in country areas. The Igbo have over 10 million people in their tribe. They believe in ancestor worship and reincarnation. Shrines are normally erected in pairs in the huts or village walk ways to represent the line of descent of the village founders. Okpossi is an individual shrine to a man’s soul (known as chi to the Igbo) it may be a cylindrical block of wood that might represent the man or an ancestor. Although they believe in ancestor worship, the Igbo still have their various gods but not one central God creator.
The young boys mask themselves after passing an initiation. During various ceremonies including funerals men are dressed as women and their mask is covered white. They may copy the movements of women or move in another fashion. But the women are not to perform in the ceremonies. The male masks are usually darker and ugly while the female mask are pretty and have white faces. Other surrounding cultures have characteristic features to their mask, sculptures, and art. Yoruba which also shares the male and female distinction of the Igbo sometimes uses horses in their sculptures or chicken in their pottery to convey different meanings. The Igbo uses horns in their carvings to symbolize status. The horns do not have to belong to any particular animal but represent success, power, and masculinity.

Journals
Simon Ottenberg, “Igbo and Yoruba Art Contrasted”, African Arts Vol.16, No.2 (Feb. 1983), p.48-55