African Arts Gallery

African mask, large in size and whose thick circular walls are surmounted by a conical headdress. The wide stretched eyelids are underlined with discreet scarifications, a simple incision raised in pink ocher indicates a tiny mouth. These masks were used to control the social order.

Heterogeneous golden beige patina, erosions and desication cracks.
The Idoma settled at the confluence of the Bénué and the Niger. Numbering 500,000, they are made up of farmers and traders. The neighborhood and therefore the influences of the Igbo, those of the Cross River and Igala ethnic groups have generated stylistic borrowings. The royal lineage members of their oglinye society, glorifying courage, wear masks and crests during funerals and festivities. They also produce fertility statues with bleached faces and showing incised teeth. Janiform crests are generally exhibited at the funerals of notables.