Family Mask

The Ijo they are implanted next to the Niger delta, in a forest area, traditionally dedicated to the production of palm oil. This facilitated contact with Europeans who supplied captured slaves between the Igbo.

They mainly worship the spirits of water, offering their prayers for their protection. Its most important society is the “Sekiapu”. This society has large masks that are held horizontally over the head, its scimers otojo. The Ijo think that these spirits share the same virtues and defects as humans since these before the birth of live man lived among them.

Mask used in ceremonies designed to honor the protective water geniuses. It has an eagle nose on a sharp face with pointed mouth at the chin level. A hairstyle formed by a central loop of two sides that come together upwards to form a sharp edge. Two small loops like ears on the sides. The outline is surrounded by a band festoned by two parallel white lines inside which small white lines, parallel and opposite, are cut in the form of "X". As in many villages in this area the perimeter of the face forms a heart.   In this case it is a family mask.