African Arts Gallery

A naturalistic face mask, associated with funeral rites, it offers a face coated with white clay marked with traditional vertical bar keloids, also present in the Igbos, cheekbones protruding under large eye cavities, a cut teeth. Locally abraded clear patina, black tops and red ochre.
Idomas have settled at the confluence of Bené and Niger. There are 500,000 farmers and traders. The neighbourhood and therefore the influences of the Igbo, those of the Cross River and Igala ethnic groups have generated stylistic borrowings, and great tribal similarities. Members of their society oglinye, glorifying courage, use masks and cimiers during funerals and festivities. They also produce fertility statues with bleached faces and exhibiting incised teeth. Janiform cimiers are usually exhibited at the funerals of notables. Members of the Kwompten male society used statues named goemai as part of healing rituals.