3. ELU FACE MASK

Ogoni, Nigeria Wood H. 7 in.

Unlike the mask described above, this Elu face mask does not have a movable, detachable jaw. This variation attests to the unique sculptural diversity of the Ogoni people. Situated on the head are two ram-shaped horns, one on either side of the face, which give the impression of a heart shape. Holes appear along the edge of the mask to hold the costume in place, and the cheeks have what appears to be facial scarificationÑa practice in West Africa popular among many ethnic groups and performed for several purposes. Culturally, the practice dates back thousands of years and has been used to identify ethnic groups (forehead), families (cheeks), and individuals (chins), as well as to express personal beauty (accents on lines).

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