ibibio - Nigeria

The Ekpo society is responsible for organising initiation rituals for young people and ancestor worship,
as well as protecting the community with ceremonies and dances. The performances involve white masks (Mfon Ekpo) and black masks (Idiok Ekpo). According to John Messenger, a deceased person who had led a good and moral life is represented by a beautiful (white) mask when visiting their family, and one who had led a bad life by an ugly (black) mask. Thus, Mfon Ekpo masks such as this one represent a “beautiful spirit” who attained eternal happiness and serves as a bridge between the world of the living and that of the ancestors, where brilliant actions during their earthly existence justify their position as privileged intermediaries to watch over the welfare of humans, particularly those who are linked to them by blood.

Provenance: Berthe Hartert collection
Argiles Collection, Barcelona