Mask

Museum number:
5-3822
Permalink:
ark:/21549/hm21050003822
Alternate number:
28 (original number)
Accession number:
Acc.1829
Description:
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.
Donor:
Richard N. Henderson and University Appropriation
Collection place:
Akpo-Ukpo, Anambra State, Nigeria
Verbatim coll. place:
Africa; Nigeria; Akpo-Ukpo; Ibo
Culture or time period:
Igbo
Collector:
Richard N. Henderson
Collection date:
May 1962
Materials:
Wood (plant material)
Object type:
ethnography
Object class:
Masks (costume)
Function:
5.3 Objects relating to the Secular and Quasi-religious Rites, Pageants, and Drama
Accession date:
February 1964
Department:
Africa (except Ancient Egypt)
Images:
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.
Legacy documentation:
Documentation associated with 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.Documentation associated with 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.

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