Igbo Maiden Spirit Mask, Nigeria

• Object: Igbo Maiden Spirit Mask, Nigeria
• Artist: -
• Circa: -
• Dimensions: 24"H x 10W x 12"
• Culture Area: Africa; Nigeria
• Cultural Group: Igbo
• Cultural Context: Scanned from an in-house sign, author unknown: Every lgbo town differs in terms of its range of festivals and types of masks, and oftentimes the spiritual and stylistic forms intermingle between regions, making it difficult to trace this mask to one particular location. However, masking traditions throughout the various lgbo regions share underlying themes and similar spirits, and so the purpose of this maiden mask can be at least somewhat clarified. Of the two most important mask types anmong the lgbo -those idealizing the qualities of young women, and those representing the powers of men, the maiden mask embodies the former. When the mask is worn, always by a man, the maiden spirit a dancer personifies represents the ideals of youthful feminine grace and beauty, albeit exaggerated both in the masks and the performance of them. Maiden masks are used mostly during agricultural festivals (usually the dry season) and the second funerals of prominent society members. On latter occasions maiden spirits are invoked alongside other spirits as appropriate escorts of the highly respected dead into the spirit world. During agricultural or other ceremonies, however, maiden spirits appear to aid in watching over the living and to promote abundant harvests, fertility, and general prosperity. Maiden spirits are light-hearted in contrast to more menacing spirits of the lgbo world, which often generate more serious atmosphere. Maiden maskers perform almost theatrically, as if in a play, their purpose to entertain both human and spirit audiences.
• Donor: Barbara & Hiro Narita
• Catalog #: 114.202