Igbo Head Crest Hair STAND Zamora Collection Start Price USD 2,000.00 Current Price USD 2,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Friday, October 03, 2008 End Time Sunday, November 02, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Igbo Head Crest Hair STAND Zamora Collection' Description Title: Ekeleke or Ekpe Society Head crest Type of Object: Head CrestEthnic Group: IgboCountry of Origin: NigeriaMaterials: Wood, pigment, encrusted material,human hairApproximate Age: 19th centuryDimensions: 26.5 InchesOverall Condition: Good with signs of long useDamage, Repair: General wearProvenance: Antonio Zamora, retired after 30 years as curator of the Purdue Black Culture Center.Additional Information: This museum quality headcrest comes from the Igbo of Nigeria. This finely carved headdress with human hair encrusted in the head is carved on to a post that would have been fitted into a socket of what would have been a basketry framework fitted over the dancer’s head. The face was painted in a bright white that was renewed several time. A dark color can be seen in forehead, the eyes area, the nose and around the mouth. The detail of the features and the symbolic motifs on the foreheads are fixed in Igbo proverbial sayings. They are similar to those found on other Igbo sculptures and masks. Such headcrest called Ekeleke were worn by stilt dancers in the dry season during ceremonial activities that are often a “light-hearted spectacle” that includes the portrayal of the ongoing struggle of “good versus evil”!. These headdresses top brightly colored costumes worn by stilt dancers who appear a number of times over an eight day period during the dry season in a variety of complex and inter-related performances. Such headcrests were also used in the Ekpe men’s society. Among a number of people in the Lower Niger and Cross River region, in fact stretching down into the Niger River delta, a men’s graded society know as Ekpe plays a prominent and powerful role in social control, exercising judicial duties and in recognizing members as they advanced through various levels of membership in this secret organization. The masks identified with Ekpe are worn on top of the head and are a carved head on a neck-like support. Not much is known of their actual appearance and the spread of Ekpe among different culture groups and within areas that are difficult to access make it difficult to set a single pattern of use for the Ekpe Society masks. For similar pieces see Marcilene Wittmer and William Arnett, THREE RIVERS OF NIGERIA, pp. 26-27For full discussion of Igbo masking traditions see Cole and Anikor in their thorough discussion of Igbo arts.Recommended Reading:Cole, H. M. & C. C. Aniakor, Igbo Arts and Community, Community and Cosmos. 1984.I have examined this piece and agree with the descriptionNiangi Batulukisi, Ph.D. **035440** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!