The Ogoni are a small tribe who live in the hinterland of the Niger delta in southeastern Nigeria. The Ogoni are known for their masks and rod puppets; both objects are often provided with a movable lower jaw (that is, they can ‘speak’). The present ‘Ogoni mask’ is unusually old. It is made of carved light-coloured wood and the face area was originally coloured white. The hairstyle, consisting of finely incised relief lines and twisted braids at the side, the conical crest tapering towards the top and ending in a knob, as well as the ears and the pouting, ‘sensual’ lips are all coloured black.
The rims of the slit eyes are dyed red. Formally unusual is also the all-round, wide rim of this mask. The movable lower jaw is also ‘built in’ to this rim, and connected with the upper part of the mask by means of vegetable fibre strips. The hinged jaw displays a lower row of teeth of nine wooden pegs, which, when the mouth is opened and closed (when it ‘speaks’), ‘disappear’ into a recess in the upper jaw. Overall a perfect example of a large, beautiful Ogoni mask, with only small breaks on the back rim and a very old, partly encrusted (on the front) and partly shiny usage patina, especially on the reverse. There is an inventory number, in white letters, on the back rim at the bottom.
Height: 38 cm (with crest carved out from the same piece); width: 22 cm.
First third of the 20th century. (ME)

Provenance:
South African private collection.

Lit.:
‘African Art in American Collections’ by Robbins & Nooter, ill. 715, 718; ‘Encyclopedia of African Art and Culture’ by K.-F. Schädler, ill. p. 480.