IGBO IKORODO MASK

The Igbo Ikorodo helmet mask is an anthropomorphic helmet mask encrusted in white kaolin  pigment. On the gaunt face is a pointed nose flanked on each side by open, deep set eyes. Linear grooves in relief depict the hairstyle underneath tapered, curved horn-like structures. 

The mask is referred to as Ikorodo in the Nsukka town of present-day Enugu State, Nigeria. It is believed to encapsulate the charm, glory and beauty of young females. The white pigment is used to represent ancestral spirits. As such, they are often worn during the funeral rites of the deceased. While it honours women, it is typically worn by young men to espouse the virtues of the spirit on earth.

The Igbos are among the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. They occupy the rainforest region of Nigeria and are known to manage republican political systems in their villages and communities. Villages operate with great sense of autonomy and are usually under the leadership of elders living within the community.

Condition

Excellent, minor wood loss