Idiok mask

Many of the masks idiok of society Ekpo are masks of disease, of the spirits responsible for sickness or deformation and represent, in sum, a spirit tormented by disease. Society Ekpothe most important, it exercises judicial functions and deals with political and religious aspects, it is also responsible for the cult of ancestors who are called upon to protect against diseases and the initiation of young people. It is also the guarantor of the well-being of the village. In short, they have social control.

By the type of pigmentation we can say that this mask, or rather said fragment of mask, is of the century XIX. Strongly accuses the passage of time in addition to having suffered a strong attack by the xylophages. It belongs to the so-called speaking masks for having the mandible articulated, which allows its bearer to speak during his dances and during the administration of justice, giving the impression that it is the mask that actually speaks when moving that jaw with the dance movements. He's lost his jaw and a part of his face. As in most of these masks the teeth are carved. Black patina.