Object name: Mask / Collection place: British West Africa (historic) / Donor: Richard N. Henderson - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Object name Mask Collection place British West Africa (historic) Donor Richard N. Henderson

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-3848, described as wooden head mask; human head topped by 8 animal (?) forms; white, red, green and blue; ca. 10 1/4" x 11 1/2".

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-3822, described as Carved wooden mask; “Agbogo-mmuo;” small, with sharp, angular features; white ground with orange and black trim. Height 21.5 cm. The name “agbogo-mmuo” means “young girl spirit.” This masquerade (”mmanwu”) is village owned, usually in groups, and is brought out in numbers to dance imitations of the acts of young women (domestic work, etc), during harvest festivals and also during some funerals. Worn with black native cloth embroidered in green, red and yellow embroidery, having raised breasts. The young men who wear these (”Ikolobia”) usually dance along with a “nne-mmanwu” (mother of masquerade). the black headdress represents the hair style of “umu-agbo” (young girls) which is done up in clay, charcoal, and water.

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-3814, described as Wooden face mask; Osi-Asi; left side painted red with white overlay; right side painted black. 33.5 x 18.5 cm. “Osi-Asi,” literally means “he tells lies.” This mask comes out into the village to announce that a festival or masking performance will occur on the next day. If two Agbogo-mmuo will appear, he will say, “there will be hundreds of agbogo-mmuo appearing tomorrow.” He exaggerates so that many people will come. Worn by Young men of a village along with very ragged costumes of raffia and tattered cloth. The white left side of the face is frequently used to represent a split character... in this case, white left means mmuo... the dead. The white right eye means that the mask has performed a sacrifice and is thus in a special holy state. This is done by ordinary men as well.

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-3837, described as Wooden masquerade mask; “agbogo-mmuo;” represents young girl spirit; white ground, with red and black trim. 17 x 13.5 cm. See remarks for 5-3821.

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-3823, described as Large wooden mask; Nne-Mnanwu; 2 sets of horns; human figure on top surrounded by bird figures; white ground with blue, black and reddish trim; 32.75 inches high.

Hearst Museum object titled Mask, accession number 5-3821, described as Carved wooden mask; Agbogo-mmuo; Sharp, angular features, with elaborate head piece; white ground with orange, black, and yellowish trim. Height: 17.25 inches.