Tribal Art

Okua Mask (N° 24211)

Bokyi and Idoma designed this same type of bleached masks, enhanced with scarifications, appearing during specific funeral rites. This version with altered contours presents a broad face with a rounded forehead, whose open mouth reveals sharp teeth. Colored highlights accentuate the contrasts. Thick velvety patina locally chipped.
Height on base: 37 cm.
The Idoma settled at the confluence of the Bénué and the Niger. Numbering 500,000, they are made up of farmers and traders. The neighborhood and therefore the influences of the Igbo, those of the Cross River and Igala ethnic groups have generated stylistic borrowings, and great tribal similarities. Royal lineage members of their oglinye society, glorifying courage, wear masks and crests during funerals and festivities. They also produce fertility statues with bleached faces and showing incised teeth. Janiform crests are generally exhibited at the funerals of notables. Members of the male Kwompten society, on the other hand, used statues named goemai as part of healing rituals.