Collection place: Africa / Collector: Richard N. Henderson / Culture or time period: Igbo - Hearst Museum Portal Search Results

Start Over Collection place Africa Collector Richard N. Henderson Culture or time period Igbo

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.