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This information was automatically generated from data provided by MOA: University of British Columbia. It has been standardized to aid in finding and grouping information within the RRN. Accuracy and meaning should be verified from the Data Source tab.

Description

An all black Janus headdress; one of the heads has a multi-peg headdress, clean-shaven, open mouth revealing filed teeth, protruding lips, ears, eyes, short nose, and a vertical ridge high on the forehead. Second head has matted hair, beard, and other features similar to first. Both heads supported by a common neck merging into a round base. Skin covering wrinkled and broken in several places, revealing wood. Base hollow, interior painted black.

History Of Use

Skin covered Janus 'masks' were used by the Ekpo secret society, which was divided into 6 or 7 ranks. Certain masks indicate the rank of the members of the society. These masks or headdresses were worn on the hood of a dancers costume, sometimes held on by a basketry cap.

Cultural Context

Worn by male dancers.

Item History

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