Ibibio
The Ibibio people of Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria have a tradition of ancestral figures and mask carvings in wood.
The ancestral figures
are composed of geometrical forms mostly cones, spheres and cylinders carved out of single blocks of wood.
The faces are bearded and are attached to the body by a thick neck.
The shoulders are
wide with arms that are round and well muscled. The torsos are narrow while the abdomens are round.
The legs are not given any
importance, being shorter than the arms.
Many of such figures are
found in Oron.
The masks are very naturalistic and are carved for the Ekpo Society which represents a spirit.
The Ekpo mask is from Ikot
Ekpene and is worn during dances and rituals of the Ekpo society.
Such masks have found their way into other parts of Nigeria.
The masks are decorated with glossy paint and are worn along with raffia by boys who move from house to house dancing and singing during festivals.
Apart from the carving of the ancestral figures and masks, the lbibio are also noted for raffia and cane work.
They weavefine mats, sacks and bags for hunters farmers and students with
raffia obtained from the fibres of young leaves of the raffia palm.
The bags have been modified, especially in the towns of Ikot
Ekpene and Calabar where shoulder bags, suitable for carrying books by students are woven and decorated, with inscriptions such as "Life", "Charity"', and "Made in Ikot Ekpene"
Not only that, the
Ibibios weave raffia cloth which was worn in the past. Such raffia cloth is now worn only during ceremonies. One of such ceremonies is that of 'girls maturity' when a irl wears a short skirt of raffia
cloth and jewellery made of shells for initiation into adulthood.
One other ceremony in which raffia cloth is worn is that of the yam harvest when the officiating chief priest wears it along with beaded
cap and offers prayers and offerings to the ancestors and gods of the land.
The lbibio also weave cane chairs, tables, stools, shelves and baskets of different types and of a very high quality and of different designs.
see also→
Benin Art
Igbo-Ukwu Art
Owerri Art
Nok Art
Tsoede
Esie Art
Ife Art
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