Category Masks

Delve into the artistry and cultural significance of Igbo masks, featuring a variety of masks used in rituals, dances, and ceremonies, highlighting intricate designs and symbolic meanings.

Igbo Archives • Archives • Masks
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Comic Mask from Lughulu Masquerade, Item Tribe, Isu-Item Igbo, 1930s

Comic mask from the Lughulu Masquerade in the Isu-Item Igbo community (Item Tribe), photographed by G.I. Jones in the 1930s. Published in African Arts (Vol. 6, No. 4, Summer 1973).
This black and white photograph captures a carved wooden mask from the Lughulu Masquerade of the Item Tribe in Isu-Item. With large rectangular eyes and a protruding lower face, the handcrafted mask reflects the rich traditions of Igbo masquerades. Photographed by G.I. Jones in the 1930s and published in African Arts, this image is a valuable cultural record.

Ogaranya Masquerade, Nimo, 1930s

Close-Up of Ogaranya Masquerade in Nimo. Photograph by Gwillim I. Jones, 1930s.

This image captures an Igbo masquerade character known as Ogaranya (meaning ‘Rich’ or ‘Wealthy’), taken in the 1930s in Nimo, southeastern Nigeria. The masquerader is seated on a wooden chair, draped in richly patterned, flowing fabric. Its mask features bold…

Iro Ekpetu masquerader from Amuda village, Onitsha Province, 1932 and 1938

This 1932-1938 photograph showcases a "Mau" or ghost masquerade, known as Iro Ekpetu, from Amuda village in the Onitsha Province. The image captures the masquerader, seated and holding a stick, adorned in a fierce black mask with intricate carvings, white-painted eyes, and exaggerated facial features like a bulging mouth with protruding teeth. The mask is topped with a raffia hairpiece, adding to its menacing appearance. The background reveals a traditional Igbo setting, with mud huts and lush vegetation, grounding the cultural significance of this Igbo masquerade tradition.