Obugulu Mau Masqueraders at Amobia Village
This colour transparency from the Jones Collection shows Obugulu Mau masqueraders seated in Amobia village, Nri Awka, Onitsha province. The masqueraders wear white face masks with black markings around the eyes, nose, and mouth, accentuating the eyebrows and cheeks. Their elaborate headdresses consist of colourful felt, string, and tassels. They are dressed in harlequin-like costumes. Spectators and trees are visible in the background. The photograph was taken by G.I. Jones, a British colonial administrator and ethnographer who documented Igbo culture during his postings in Nigeria.
Community Notes
Onyeka Nwokike
Apr 19, 2026
The elaborate superstructures of the Obugulu Mau masks incorporate a variety of materials including ribbons, carvings, and mirrors, according to Ụkpụrụ̄: Images of Ìgbò Before. The harlequin-style garments are further identified as being made from applique materials.
Onyeka Nwokike
Apr 19, 2026
In the Awka region, masquerade performances are centrally featured in the Imo-Oka festival (also known as Imo Awka). As detailed on Wikipedia, this two-week event takes place in May at the beginning of the farming season to honor a female deity for land fertility and crop yield. The Imo Awka festival typically showcases several types of masquerades that display at the Imoka shrine.
Onyeka Nwokike
Apr 19, 2026
The Obugulu Mau, or ghost masquerade, is a dance performed by men to escort the spirits of respected elders to the spirit world, a practice particularly popular among the Igbo in the 1930s according to the Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology.
Onyeka Nwokike
Apr 19, 2026
Characters within the Obugulu Mau include the Mmanwu Adanma (beauty spirit), a maiden spirit danced by men (Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology), and Ayalugwe, who typically stands in the center of the arena holding a whisk and a cutlass (Ụkpụrụ̄).
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