Ibo mask Nigeria young lady

This mask is part of a private collection. It was purchased in the 1980s in Paris. Agbogho Mwo Mask - Igbo Ibo - Nigeria. African tribal art. Primitive tribal art. Certainly one of the most well-known Igbo masks, it represents the spirit of a deceased young girl. This mask idealises feminine beauty and showcases the adornments once associated with Nkpu wedding ceremonies. They are generally made for the Mwo society (Ghost), the face is white, the colour of death. The Mwo society exerts its influence over the Northern Ibo, in the name of ancestral guardian spirits.