The African Collection includes over 1,000 objects, predominately from East Africa, with particular strengths in Zaire and Nigeria. The collection is rich in the area of textiles, as well as early ceramics, many of which are part of a recent gift of over 100 choice examples from South Floridian collectors Claudia and Alan Potamkin. The Lowe continues to expand its holdings with emphasis on East Africa, particularly Ethiopia.
Bamana people (Mali)
Helmet Mask [Komo], mid-20th century
wood, horn, feathers, pine needles, porcupine quills and encrustation, 8 1/2 x 16 x 33"
Museum purchase, 88.0158
Komo is a secret society whose mission is to protect the community from antisocial or dangerous events or individuals, some thought to be "witches." The horizontal mask, worn only by the association's leader, is said to devour witches like a hyena. The antelope horns projecting from the back of the head symbolize the power of the bush (that area of wilderness beyond the boundaries of human activities in the village and yelds). Feathers are added to the mask to incorporate the knowledge and divination powers of birds, who soar in the heavens, and owls in particular, who have special vision to seek out prey and hunt at night.
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Igbo people (Nigeria)
Las Frutas, 1964
oil on canvas, 49 1/2 x 50 1/4"
Gift of Esso Inter-America, Inc., 70.024.030
Ukara cloth is a primary emblem of the Igbo version of Ekpe, a powerful secret association that originated in the Cross River area among the Ejagham people, eastern neighbors of the Igbo. Indigo-dyed cloths with designs derived from the secret Ekpe script called nsibidi are known in other areas, but ukara is a distinctly Igbo version. The cloths are made for individual members of Ekpe's highest rank, who choose the designs and motifs that serve as a personal "signature" on their particular cloth.
Ukara is usually worn as a wrapper but may also serve as a wall hanging, a banner, or part of a masquerade costume for Ekpe performances. Upon the death of the owner, the cloth may be used to construct a symbolic Ekpe house (the spirit meeting place) for the funeral. To create a fabric the proper size for its intended use, lengths of European-made white cotton cloth are stitched together. The fabric for a banner may be long enough to cover an entire wall of an Ekpe house. The patterns are drawn on the undyed cloth and then tightly stitched with coarse raffia fiber. When the raffia is removed after dying, the designs stand out as fuzzy white lines against the deep blue background. Nsibidi signs alternate with geometric patterns symbolizing the leopard spirit of Ekpe. Some motifs cut across the grid of squares, notably the leopard and the costumed masquerader. |
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Ejagham people (Cross River, Nigeria)
Nkunia, Gajo o Rama
[twig, cutting or branch], 1995
wood, hide and pigment,
16 1/4 x 12 7/8 x 10 5/8"
Museum purchase, 92.0020
The Cross River region of Nigeria is famous for skin-covered masks in several different forms generally associated with Ekpe, a graded men's society that serves as the effective government in the otherwise leaderless villages throughout this heavily forested area. A double-faced helmet mask such as this is the type usually worn by members of the highest ranking grade of Ekpe.
The bulging foreheads and aquiline noses of the two faces suggest that the origin of this mask is the upper bend of the Cross River, not far from the Nigeria-Cameroon border. Ejagham is the most comprehensive name for the people in this area, but individuals prefer to identify themselves with their village or clan. Ekpe does not unify the region; rather, each village has its own cult house and its own set of masks.
The dark, painted face is male, and the light face with typical painted facial patterns is female. The holes on the top of the helmet probably held small wooden pegs carved to simulate a hairstyle associated with women. However, the shape of the upper portion of the mask suggests a form of fur cap worn by men. The theme of duality conveys spiritual completeness and possibly the ability to see into the past and the future. The mask is not recognized as representing a particular spirit, but is recognized as a symbol of the corporate group Ekpe and of the powers of its leaders.
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