Dance mask - Nigeria

Amongst the Mumuye, who live in northern Nigeria on the border of Cameroon, there are - in addition to their well-known ancestor figures - two types of masks: a large crest or shoulder mask, known as ‘Sukwava’ (see cat. no. 62), and smaller helmet or head crest masks, such as the present one, thought to be female and known as ‘grandmother’ or ‘old woman’. These ‘grandmother masks’ play an important role in the initiation of young tribal members, and they also dance at seed-sowing time, at harvests, at funeral rituals and other important events. The present ‘grandmother mask’ of the Mumuye was carved out of very hard, heavy wood, completely coloured dark brown and afterwards, outside, provided with an additional red tone using powdered redwood.

Provenance: Jean-Michel Huguenin, Paris