Mask
| Culture | Igbo |
|---|---|
| Culture | Afikpo (Subgroup of the Igbo) |
| Title | Mask (Mma Ji) |
| Date | 19th–20th century |
| Medium | Wood, pigment, and and fiber |
| Dimensions | Object: 14 15/16 × 5 1/4 × 6 in. (37.9 × 13.3 × 15.2 cm) Overall: 14 15/16 × 5 1/4 × 6 in. (37.9 × 13.3 × 15.2 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Roy and Sophia Sieber, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 85.73 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A mask with a narrow face and three cylindrical large shapes protruding outward. A large, flat horn emerges from the top/forehead of the mask, then curves upward and backward in a sharp sickle-shape.
Mma ji, “knife-yam,” is the best-known mask form of the Afikpo, an eastern Igbo subgroup. Its name refers to the top part of the mask, which resembles a knife or machete. It appears at performances known as okumkpa, which may involve up to one hundred masqueraders who participate in skits, songs, and dances that offer sometimes satirical and critical commentary on community members and events. Mma ji performers also appear at an elaborate parade known as nenji, an event that begins the dry season festival.
Provenance research is ongoing for this and many other items in the Eskenazi Museum of Art permanent collection. For more information about the provenance of this artwork, please contact the department curator with specific questions.
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Cite this page
"Mask | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=85.73