African Fine Arts - AFRICAN-ART

Ekoi Headdress - Nigeria
Made of wood, animal skin, basketry and pigment. The Ekoi of Nigeria carve cephalomorphic and zoomorphic headdresses which tend to be covered with antelope skin; consisting of applying a fresh skin atop a wooden core, then adding hair and details. The varnished antelope skin substitutes for the previous use of human skin. The Ekoi have produced these works as far back as 200 AD. These headdresses were used to watch over the behavior of members of the tribe. The wearer, with mask tied upon head and attached to a long flowing raffia costume, during certain ceremonies, would approach and challenge troublemakers and punish wrong doers openly. The large, prominent, protruding, antelope skin covered braids are a main characteristic of the Ekoi headdress. In African life and sculpture hair has received a lot of attention. Hair is a cultural element of social communication and an expression of identity, social status or profession.