An Ekpe masquerader in Uzuakoli, present-day Abia State. Photographed by G. I. Jones, 1930s. MAA Cambridge. Ọ̀kọ̀nkọ̀ members controlled ...

Are You a Mason? A Member of the Egbo, A Nigerian Secret Society, In Costume. The most important and widespread of the secret societies in...

Onye Ọcha mask, Igbo parody of a white man during the colonial era from Amobia, part of a larger play. Apart from more serious ritual masks...

This is likely Nwa Agụ, in Umuahia, the leopard Ọ̀kọ̀nkọ̀ mask worn by high ranking men as the emblem of the society. The costume's che...

Agbọ mmụọ, Igbo maiden spirit masks, early 20th century. These masks are worn by men and the design of the costumes incorporate the cosmeti...

Duties of the (Igbo) second burial ( ịkwa ozu? ) according to the European source, early 20th century. This is probably for a very prominent...

Photo: The Otiri masquerade of Ebiriba (Abiriba), a masquerade, of the Iri Ama festival, that praises beautiful women of the community for...

"Play of late Chief Ogolo of Opobo - men dressed in ritual costumes." photographed by Arthur Tremearne, c. 1913. MAA Cambridge. Ọ...

"Play of late Chief Ogolo of Opobo - men dressed in ritual costumes." photographed by Arthur Tremearne, c. 1913. MAA Cambridge. ...

Masquerades from different cultural regions of the Igbo area photographed by G. I. Jones in the 1930s. Masquerades representing fierce an...

"Ogu wooden face mask," part of the Nkporo people's Ifogu masquerade at Elugu Nkporo in p.d. Abia State, photographed by G. I...

Young male Nkporo initiates dancing masks with tall fibre extensions, eastern Igbo area (p.d. Abia State), 1930s. Photo: G.I. Jones.

“A yam dance, ‘eighu ulo’, Ibusa [Igbuzo, p.d. Delta State], Near Asaba.” Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology, Cambridge.

An Okonko masquerade in Umuahia photographed by G. I. Jones, 1930s. MAA Cambridge. Okonko is the form of Ekpe society in many southern I...

It is extremely rare, unheard of and possibly, barring this instance, virtually impossible to find a masking tradition in west Africa that...

An Okorosie or Okoroshi masquerade of a female character called Nwanyire dancing in front of a group of spectators. The masquerader is w...

A Niger Delta-Igbo Owu masquerade Location: Ugwuta, | Date: 1940s | Credit: Sabine Jell-Bahlsen

Okorosie or Okoroshi masquerade An Okorosie or Okoroshi masquerade of a female character called Nwanyire dancing in front of a group o...

[Igbo] Ohafia war dance The [Igbo] Ohafia war dance iri agha. Adult male carrying a headhunters trophy (oyaya) on his head. The trophy is...

[Igbo] Rumuji Owu play with the character of Oterivinwe sitting on a chair. The masquerader is wearing a wooden, beautiful female, white ...