Mask in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head
| Culture | Ijo |
|---|---|
| Culture | Kalabari (Subgroup of the Ijo) |
| Title | Mask in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head (Otobo) |
| Date | Ca. 1916 |
| Medium | Wood, incrustation, pigment, and and metal |
| Dimensions | Object: 19 × 9 3/8 × 4 3/4 in. (48.3 × 23.8 × 12.1 cm) Overall: 19 × 9 3/8 × 4 3/4 in. (48.3 × 23.8 × 12.1 cm) |
| Credit Line | Gift of Raymond and Laura Wielgus in honor of Rudy Professor Emeritus Roy Sieber, Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University |
| Accession Number | 96.49 |
| This artwork is currently on view. | |
A mask in the form of a stylized hippopotamus head with semi-circular eyes, a thin nose and two large, semi-circular nostrils. There are four vertical cylindrical shapes (tusks) protruding downward at the bottom of the mask.
This mask’s name, otobo, means “hippopotamus,” an animal that the Kalabari refer to as “the beast who holds up the flowing tide,” and the mask’s solid form and tusk-like canines clearly convey the strength and fierceness of its namesake. As befitting this powerful aquatic mammal that is known for its aggressive and unpredictable movements on land, the otobo masquerader moves in a belligerent and forceful manner toward both the audience and other masqueraders. During a performance, the mask, which is positioned on top of the head, is decorated with feathers, fiber, leaves, and cloth, which are attached to the metal loops on the sides and top.
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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"Mask in the Form of a Hippopotamus Head | Collections Online." Collections Online. Sidney and Lois Eskenazi Museum of Art, Indiana University, 2025. https://artmuseum.indiana.edu/collections-online/browse/object.php?number=96.49