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HOME :
African & Tribal Art :
Ekoi, Ejangham, Cross Rivers : Ekoi Zoomorphic Crest Mask
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Ekoi Zoomorphic Crest Mask - X.1004
Origin: Eastern Nigeria
Circa: 20
th
Century AD
Dimensions:
14.5" (36.8cm) high
x 10" (25.4cm) wide
x 26.375" (67.0cm) depth
Collection: African
Style: Ekoi
Medium: Wood, Skin, Horns
Additional Information: SOLD
$2,500.00
Location: United States
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| Description |
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The Cross River region of southeastern
Nigeria spreading into Cameroon abounds
in cultures that, though diverse, are
unified by certain shared traditions
that give rise to the creation of
similar objects. The most important of
these objects are the crest masks
covered with animal hide. Apparently of
Ekoi (also called “Ejagham”) origin,
these mask have been borrowed by many
neighboring tribes, including the Igbo
and Ibibio to the west, the Boki to the
north, and the Keaka, Annang, and
Widekum to the east. Skin-covered
headdress were used for a number of
purposes in certain secret societies.
Among the Boki, three distinct societies
have been recorded: the warriors’
society, the hunters’ society, and the
women’s society. Masquerade
performances generally took place at the
initiation or funerals of members of the
association that owned them , and also
at periodic rites connected with
agriculture.
The techniques used in the production of
skin-covered masks are more complex than
those of most other African mask. The
subtractive process of carving is
followed by an additive one involving
not only the attachment of the skin to
the wooden surface, but also inserts of
metal or can to represent teeth and
eyes. Although there are authenticated
cases of human skin being used to cover
such masks, the use of painstakingly de-
haired and softened antelope skin is
much more frequent. The bottom of the
masks are typically attached to a
wickerwork base designed to fit over the
head of a normal-sized human. A textile
costume, reaching down to the ankles,
was fitted to the underside of the
wickerwork base in order to cover the
masquerader’s head and face and conceal
his identity. Through such ceremonial
dances, the tribe sought to communicate
and mollify the natural forces that
preside over human destinies.
This imposing crest mask attributed to
the Ekoi tribe depicts the head of a
zoomorphic creature with the elongated
mouth of a crocodile and the horns of an
antelope. In this case, the horns are
indeed actual animal horns that have
been secured to the back of the mask.
The whole of the head (not including the
protruding horns) has been covered in
stretched animal hide, perhaps even the
hide of the same antelope that provided
the horns for this mask. Thin metal
strips have been inserted into the top
and bottom halves of partially ajar
mouth to serve as teeth, further
enhancing the intimidating nature of
this mask. Such a mask would have been
kept by a secret society, likely the
hunters’ association. This mask was
likely danced during ritual ceremonies
relating to this association. Between
performances, it was probably carefully
wrapped in bark cloth or matting and
stored in the rafters near a continually
smoldering hearth.
- (X.1004)
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