African Art Sculptures and "Cubist" Tribal Masks This stylized mask from the central Ijo region, departing from the style of that of the Ijo Kalabari, is associated with the spirits of nature. It was used by one of the male brotherhoods sekiapu or "dancing people" who wore it obliquely on the head. An openwork panel, on which small wooden diamonds are fixed, bears in its center a face with bulging eyes and a toothy mouth. Crusty matte patina. Desication cracks, losses. Wall hanging possible thanks to a hanging hole. The Ijo of the Niger Delta live mainly from fishing and agriculture, and their small villages lie in swampy areas west of the Nun River. References to their warrior past abound on the other hand in reliquaries, rituals and masked celebrations. Their masks and other artistic productions are intended to honor the aquatic spirits, oru or owuamapu, whom they revere and to whom sacrifices were made. Fishermen had to be careful not to offend these spirits, otherwise they could bring down their wrath by means of the various dangerous animal species of the region, such as hippopotamuses, crocodiles or pythons. They also consider all of their masks, zoomorphic or anthropomorphic,Owumo, to be water spirits. ("The Other Face", ed.A.Biro and "Arts of Nigeria" ed.5Continents.)
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