An Ibo Asa Ndoki / epke mask, Nigeria, Abia and Imo regions. Among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria, masquerade masks associated with Asa-Nkwọ or related Epke/Ekpe-type performances form part of a wider complex of ritual and social institutions. In the Igbo areas corresponding today to Abia State and Imo State, these masks display regional stylistic features that distinguish them from related traditions elsewhere in Igboland. Carved predominantly in lightweight wood, masks from this region frequently exhibit narrow chins, and sharply defined noses. Facial surfaces are typically treated with pigments such as white kaolin (nzu), red camwood powder, and black charcoal, producing contrasting patterns that evoke ideas of spiritual transformation and ancestral presence within Igbo cosmology. Another notable characteristic is the development of elaborate superstructures above the facial plane. These may include stylized crests, animal representations—particularly birds—or small sculpted figures. During the performances, the carved mask forms only one element of a larger costume ensemble, typically consisting of raffia or layered textiles that conceal the performer entirely. Within Igbo belief systems, this concealment enables the masquerader to embody a spirit being (mmụọ), transforming the mask from a sculptural object into an active agent within communal ritual and social regulation. CAB38294