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Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
Face Mask (Idiok Ekpo)
Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
© Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami. All rights reserved.

Face Mask (Idiok Ekpo)

Artist/Maker (Nigeria)
Datenot dated
Mediumwood, pigment and encrustation
DimensionsOverall: 20 5/8 x 10 1/2 x 7 1/4 in. (52.4 x 26.7 x 18.4 cm)
ClassificationsCostumes and Accessories
Credit LineGift of Alan Potamkin
Terms
    Object number2007.48.87
    DescriptionThe Ekpo festival takes place during the harvest season and reinforces social values. Black masks, idiok ekpo, with deformed faces, wearing black raffia costumes, and carrying threatening weapons or sticks represent souls of the dead who have been condemned by their evil or unfortunate lives to wander forever in the dark, in the shadows of this world and can never enter the underworld where good souls live. The appearance of idiok ekpo is preceded by a group of masks, mfon ekpo (beautiful masks), that represent, by their calm, graceful manner and pale, regular features, souls of good people who have lived respected, positive lives and have died at home among their family and accompanied by the proper rituals. These souls may go abroad in daylight, hence their pale color. They appear at the market place and elsewhere among the people in the village participating in normal, beneficial social activities. Once the evil souls, idiok ekpo, appear the beautiful masks leave, abandoning the village to the disruptive, destructive activities of the dark masks. The physical deformities and ugliness of the dark masks is testimony to the antisocial activities or unfortunate previous lives of these souls. There is a direct correlation between physical appearance and moral and ethical concepts not just among the Ibibio but also in much of the rest of Africa. It is not surprising that Ibibio village leaders use these dark masks to enforce sanctions against undesirable behavior.
    On View
    Not on view
    Collections
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Ibibio people
    not dated
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Ibibio people
    not dated
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Ibibio people
    not dated
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Ibibio people
    not dated
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Dogon people
    20th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Bassa people
    20th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    ca. 1540
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Ejagham people
    20th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    late 19th to early 20th century (printed 1992)
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Baulé people
    not dated
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    19th century
    Collection of the Lowe Art Museum, University of Miami
    Artist Unknown
    19th century