The Eket people are a small tribe in southeastern Nigeria, neighbours of the Ibibio and Ogoni. During harvest festivals, members of the ‘Ekpo secret society’ dance with these round masks. To give thanks for a good harvest, to thank their ancestors and ‘mother earth’, as well as to commemorate important warriors.
The present mask is a typical example of the Eket style: it is circular, carved from hard wood and in this case coloured white, black, reddish-brown and blue. Around the mask face is a broad, round rim, common for this type, which ascends towards the centre in conical form. This rim displays a star-like relief, which is here dyed black. The triangular interstices between the rays of the ‘star’ are alternately coloured white, reddish-brown and blue. The actual round mask face in the middle has the characteristic Eket form: the forehead is wide, arched and dyed reddish-brown. In contrast, the hairstyle above, worked in high relief, is black, as is the typical tribal triangular scarification mark above the bridge of the nose, and the widely drawn eyebrows. The lower section of the face was originally completely white: it is slightly concave and curves inwards. Here are depicted the arched slit eyes, the small, curved nose and the narrow, closed mouth which is dyed reddish-brown at the lower edge. A stylistically perfect example of this type, with colour scuffing due to age in the kaolin white, old breaks on both rear edges, as well as a slight crack in the right half of the face. Otherwise no damage. With good, shiny patina on the back.
Diameter: c. 31 cm (outer edge); c. 20 cm (actual mask edge on the back, on the inside).
First half to mid-20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
Austrian private collection.

Lit.:
‘The Tribal Arts of Africa’ by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, ill. p. 94; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 210.