The Mumuye live in northeastern Nigeria, on the border of Cameroon. In addition to their known ancestor figures the Mumuye have two types of masks: the type of the large crest or shoulder mask ‘Sukwava’, as presented here, which is used during healing or rain-making ceremonies, and a smaller type, imagined to be female, which dances at initiations (cat. no. 61). This ‘Sukwava’ mask is carved from hard, heavy wood and coloured dark brown. It was either worn on the shoulders of the masked dancer, or on the head (with padding). The dancer looked out through the rectangular space in the front. The mask shows a typical Mumuye head, with high crested coiffure, long ears, a long flat nose with three iron nose rings, as well as scarification marks on both cheeks and on the small, pointed mouth. The eyes are made of black tree resin, as is the ruff under the long, round neck with accentuated adam’s apple; bright red jequirity beans (seed capsules) are inserted into the eyes. An impressive, large object, with shiny patina on the outside and good, old usage patina on the inside, as well as with some age-related damage: erosion and some pieces broken off at the lower part (normally covered by the mask costume), part of the ruff is missing, minor cracks on the head and neck, the hair-crest and the tips of the ears are chipped. H: c. 106 cm. First half of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance: German Private Collection.

Lit.: 'The Tribal Art of Africa' by Jean-Baptiste Bacquart, p. 96, fig. 3.