Our major, new exhibition, The Igbo, Ibibio and Ogoni, shows the quality and diversity of work from several peoples of southem Nigeria. Traditional Igbo pieces, made to influence fate, honor gods or to entertain, present a wide range of figures and masks. We have an outstanding group of the powerful, blocky, post-like display figures from the Southern Region as well as the rounder, more realistic versions from the North Central area.. Several Ikenga, the smaller, but formidable home shrine figures, symbolize status and strength. Igbo masks include delicate maiden spirit masks, Queen of Women helmet masks, the unusual elephant masks, plus some of the more abstract Yam festival and Afikbo masks. The neighboring people, the Ibibio, show masks that, like the Igbo, illustrate the theme of duality, with positive masks appearing regular and harmonius and negative ones being distorted and aggressive.. Ogoni masks, usually smaller, are notable for their hinged jaws as are the fine collection of puppets. Other unique works and several Urhobo shrine figures complete the exhibit.

IBIBIO, SHRINE HEAD, Nigeria
Photograph © John Urban