Igbo
Federal Republic of NigeriaMask, 19th century
Not on view
Polychrome wood
Dimensions12 × 9 × 7 in. (30.5 × 22.9 × 17.8 cm)
Museum purchase with funds from the Collection Endowment, 2021.11
The Igbo peoples united as a homogeneous community after European colonization in the early 20th century. This unification has caused the Igbo peoples to develop a variety of cultural and artistic practices. Split between the eastern and western region of the Niger river, today the Igbo are one of the largest ethnic groups in Africa. Masks of all different forms and functions are prevalent in the Igbo societies and were used for sacred rituals, initiations, burials, and festivals. Objects made by Igbo artists include depicting humans, animals, and abstract concepts.
