Afikpo Mask – Wood – IGBO – Nigeria

Stlistic Igbo Afikpo mask from Nigeria.
Igbo-Afikpo Mask mma ji. “Yam root knife” (Mma ji) called mask, the plank-like forehead extension represents a machete that was used in field work and used to be a weapon.
In particular, it`s said to have performed at celebrations for the yam harvest. The Afikpo masks were not allowed to be danced by women, but they were definitely welcome as spectators.
The Afikpo are a small subgroup of the Igbo people in Nigeria. Most of their masks are small and are danced at Yam festivals or for satire and entertainment. Two types here are classified. Those with a flat board superstructure are mba masks, those with peglike projections and a curved blade form on top are mmaji, or yam blade masks. The blade is the shape of a machete used to harvest the yams.
Good condition with a beautiful aged patina, covered with phembe, white amd orange kaoliën. Contains traces of wear and tear, the blade on top of the mask is restored in the past.