African Arts Gallery

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Crest masks in African Ejagham/Ekoi art .
Leopard societies, such as the male Kpe, Ngbe society among the Aro of Nigeria, used this pattern of crest masks for initiation ceremonies or funerals of members. of the association, but also during agricultural rituals. A janiform mask rising from a basketry base is draped in animal skin, usually antelope. The six removable volutes are also sheathed in leather. The dancer's costume consisted of a large trellis of raffia cords, more recently, cotton fabric. The masks were coated with palm oil before use, and placed in the light of day so that their leather softened and adopted a satisfactory luster. The hairstyle would represent that of the young women named Moninkim at the end of their traditional seclusions during which the Nkim dance ...

This statue would evoke an Ikem dance dancer sporting the extravagant hairstyle consisting of volute growths, depicting the hair extensions of the girls at the end of their period of initiation. It was carved from a wood that was then sheathed with animal skin, mostly antelope. The mouth reveals ritually cut teeth. Stretched eyelids open onto bleached globes. The elements of the head are removable. The dancer's costume consisted of a large lattice of raffia ropes, and more recently, cotton fabric. The masks were coated with palm oil before use, and placed in daylight so that the leather would soften and adopt a satisfying luster. Leopard societies, such as the male society Kpe, Ngbe among the Aro, used this crest model for initiation ceremonies or funerals of association members, but ...

This sculpture forms a reduced version of the large Ekoi Ejagham crest mask. Reddish brown patina, erosions.
Leopard societies, such as the male Kpe, Ngbe society among the Aro, used this crest design for initiation ceremonies or funerals of association members, but also during agricultural rituals. The headdress would represent that of young women named Moninkim at the end of their traditional seclusions during which the Nkim dance was taught to them. Other dance groups, such as the Ikem, still wore these masks in the 2000s. (Nigerian Arts Revisited, N. Barley)

This female figure is a young Ejagham or Boki woman from western Cameroon adorned in her finery and tattooed for traditional dance. Her hairstyle illustrates one of the elaborate hair constructions of young girls marking the end of their period of initiation reclusion or in honor of festive ceremonies. This rare sculpture is distinguished, however, by its magical charge on the abdomen, in an orifice sealed with glass. Talismans in the form of shells, seeds and bags complete the whole.
The surface is impregnated with a dye, the residue of which forms a granular mottled patina.

Leopard societies, such as the male Kpe, Ngbe society among the Aro, were responsible for initiation ceremonies and funerals of association members, but also for celebrations surrounding ...

Ex English African art collection.
This African mask was estimated to be auctioned at 750 euros.
From a conical base in braided basketry rises a wooden head sheathed with animal skin, antelope generally, ideal for feminine beauty in the Ejagham. This extravagant hairstyle consisting of four growths in volutes, also lined with leather, would represent the hair extensions of the girls at the end of their period of initiation. The hollowed-out mouth has teeth. The whole thing was oil-slaped, velbling the brown patina. Stretched eyelids open onto bleached globes. The dancer's costume consisted of a large lattice of raffia ropes, and more recently, cotton fabric. The masks were coated with palm oil before use, and placed in daylight so that the leather would soften and adopt a ...

A circular base in braided basketry rises a head evoking the ideal of feminine beauty in the Ejaghams. It was carved from a wood that was then sheathed with animal skin, mostly antelope. This extravagant hairstyle consisting of a volute growth between two leather-trimmed horns, would represent the hair extensions of the girls at the end of their period of initiation. The hollowed-out mouth has metallic teeth. Stretched eyelids open onto bleached globes.
The dancer's costume consisted of a large lattice of raffia ropes, and more recently, cotton fabric. The masks were coated with palm oil before use, and placed in daylight so that the leather would soften and adopt a satisfying luster. Leopard societies, such as the male society Kpe, Ngbe among the Aro, used this crest model for ...