Cultural Archives
Ogwu Mask, Boys Initiation, Etiti Ama
A photograph depicting a human figure in profile facing left, wearing a large light-toned Ogwu mask with a prominent upward-curving horn-like protrusion on the forehead. The subject is bare-chested with a high-volume mass of fibrous or feathered material attached to …
Ofogu Mask, Boys Initiation
A photograph depicting a figure wearing an Ofogu mask used during boys' initiation ceremonies in the Etiti Ama quarter of Nkporo. The subject is shown in profile, facing right, wearing a large radial fan-shaped headdress of avian feathers with light …
Calabash Mask, Boys Initiation
A photograph depicting a participant in a boys' initiation ritual in Nkporo. The individual is shown in profile, wearing a complex regalia consisting of a voluminous headpiece with elongated fibers extending vertically and radially. Beneath these fibers is a light-toned …
Horned Face Mask from Nri Awka
A photograph depicting a wooden face mask from the Nri Awka region, combining human and animal features. The mask is painted white with arched black brows, slit eyes, and an open mouth showing teeth outlined in black. Two pointed horns, …
Carved Wooden Face Mask with Protruding Eyes
A photograph depicting a carved wooden face mask characterized by protruding eyes and mouth, with natural hair attached as a beard. The head and crested headdress are painted black, while the primary facial substrate is an off-white to cream tone. …
Dancing Initiation Masks, Boys Initiation
A photograph depicting a group of human figures in an outdoor, earthen clearing during a boys' initiation ceremony. The subjects wear voluminous, conical skirts made of light-colored, vertical fibrous strands, likely raffia or straw, extending from the waist to the …
Mau Ghost Face Mask
A photograph depicting a Mau (ghost) face mask painted white with black pigment. The mask features slit eyes, an elongated nose, and a mouth with teeth, accompanied by ear projections. The forehead and under-eye regions are decorated with carved and …
Ogbugulu Mau Mask
A photograph depicting a side view of an Ogbugulu Mau helmet mask modelled by a male subject. The face of the mask is painted white with darker pigments accentuating the eyebrows, eyes, mouth, hair, and crested structure. The eyes are …
Maiden Spirit Mask (Isi abogefi)
A photograph showing the interior and exterior of an Igbo maiden spirit mask, known locally as Isi abogefi, collected by Northcote Thomas in Agukwu Nri in 1911. The mask is carved from egbu wood and features a white facial surface …
Agbhogho Mmanwu Maiden Mask
A photograph depicting a profile view of an Agbhogho Mmanwu maiden mask. The object is a stylized human head carved from wood and painted, featuring a prominent nose, thick lips, and a slightly open mouth revealing segmented teeth. The cranium …
Study of Igbo Wooden Mask
A photograph depicting a side view of a carved wooden mask. The object is vertically oriented and anthropomorphic, featuring a prominent horizontal fissure separating the upper and lower segments. The lower segment displays stylized facial features, including an almond shaped …
Agbogho Mmo Maiden Spirit Mask
A photograph depicting an anthropomorphic mask, identified as an Abogho Mmo (maiden spirit) mask. The mask is characterized by an elongated, ovoid silhouette with a pointed peak and bilateral symmetry. It features a light-valued base, likely white pigment, with dark, …