African Arts Gallery

French collection of African art . Mask depicting an imaginary creature with deformed features. It would seem that some lateral elements (ears?) have come loose. Matt patina of use, cracks and erosions. Height on base: 40 cm.
The Ijo live mainly from fishing and agriculture on the southern coast of Nigeria, their villages are located in marshy areas west of the Nun River. References to their warlike and commercial past abound in reliquaries, rituals and masked celebrations. Their masks and other artistic productions are intended to honor the aquatic spirits, otojo, whom they venerate and to whom sacrifices were intended. The fishermen had to be careful not to offend these spirits, otherwise they could unleash their wrath on the various dangerous animal species in the region, such as hippopotamuses, crocodiles or pythons. They also consider that all their masks, zoomorphic or anthropomorphic, Owumo, are water spirits.