Accession Number
1998/1.135

Title
Mask

Artist(s)
Igbo

Artist Nationality
Igbo (Southern Nigerian style, culture)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
wood, white and black pigment

Dimensions
13 9/16 in x 9 1/16 in x 11 13/16 in (34.5 cm x 23 cm x 30 cm);13 9/16 in x 9 1/16 in x 11 13/16 in (34.5 cm x 23 cm x 30 cm);19 1/2 in x 9 1/16 in x 11 13/16 in (49.5 cm x 23 cm x 30 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Susan B. and John F. Ullrich


Subject matter
To celebrate the beauty of young women and their potential within the community, men embody female roles by wearing masks called agbogho mmuo, meaning 'maiden spirit'. Mmuo, meaning spirit or ghost, along with the white paint used, connect the mask with the power of ancestors and spirits. Aside from white pigment signifying beauty and youth, the white clay it represents is often used as a sacrificial food for gods and spirits. While these masquerades are still performed today, it is often in secular or theatrical contexts; this is in contrast to their past use governing certain aspects of Igbo society. 

References Cited: 
Cole, Herbert M. 2013. Visions of Africa: Igbo. Milan: 5 Continents Editions.

Physical Description
Wooden mask in the form of a female head. The face has traces of white pigment and the lips, nose, eyebrows, and chin are defined with black pigment. There are three small dots in a column on each side of the face. The hair is decorated with spiral designs. Four conical protrusions topped with knobs form the crest of the hairstyle, while four spiral cones curve down from the crest on either side of the head; the two closest to the front on each side are connected at the bottom.

Primary Object Classification
Sculpture

Primary Object Type
mask

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ancestors
beauty
girls
masquerades
spirits (beings)
women (female humans)
youth (people)