Elephant mask by Ogbodo Enyi, 60 cm - Igbo Izzi - Nigeria (No reserve price)

Rare Ogbodo Enyi elephant mask from Nigeria. In southeastern Nigeria, the Igbo people cultivate a complex mask tradition, traditionally reserved for men. A notable exception was documented in 1975 at Izzi, where a woman was allowed to wear the mask to stem an infant mortality crisis on the advice of an oracle. The ogbodo enyi mask, or the “elephant spirit,” is distinguished by the presence of a human head (ntekpe) emerging from its back, symbolizing the spirit of a notable person or a protective entity. Unlike other practices, these masks—also called “Wawa”—parade individually according to a hierarchy tied to age classes. Used during the dry season for village purification or during funerals, they embody the ancestors watching over the community. If their character was once threatening and violent, the figure today adopts a benevolent stance, receiving offerings and prayers from the faithful.

Estimate:£126.72

View all items fromCatawikiorEthnographical