Monkey Mask

Culture: Mumuye artist
Date: 20th century
Material: Wood, raffia, and fiber
associated with: Adamawa state, Nigeria, Africa
Classification: Costume & clothing, masks
Collection: Arts of Africa, Oceania, and the Americas
Current Location: Not on view
Dimensions: approximate: 39 x 18 x 17 1/4 in. (99.1 x 45.7 x 43.8 cm)
Credit Line: Gift of Edward W. Daumit
Rights: Public Domain
Object Number: 47:2008

NOTES

A monkey mask such as this would have served as the ‘wife’ of a bush cow mask, accompanying it in public, although both would have been performed by men. As monkey masks were only observed and collected since Nigeria’s independence from Britain in 1960, they are thought to be a more recent innovation than their bush cow mates. This example is remarkable for its intact raffia cape. Historically, the Mumuye used masks such as this one in elaborate performances during initiation and harvest rituals.

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