Ejagham Skin Covered Mask

The attribution to the Ejagham people played a role in focusing my research further within this style of masks, often referred to as “cap masks”. Skin covered cap masks with a specific styling of horn like coiffure hair designs were thought to have originated in the Ejagham regions of the Cross-River Region in the late 19th century. These cap masks are often associated with female coming of age ceremonies, funerary rituals, and the masquerade practices of Ikem. Much of the research around skin covered masks does not focus on one cultural group or region. Groups other than Ejagham discussed with skin covered mask practices are the Anyang, Bangwa, Banyang, Ekoi (which sometimes the Ejagham are referred to as), Ikem, Mbube, Nsikpe, Widekum, and throughout parts of Ibibioland. Because of the extensive cultural exchange and the overlap of location terminology with cultural groups, attributing a mask to a certain cultural group or place becomes very challenging without direct input from Cross-River Region members. Due to this ambiguity, take all group attributions of skin covered masks with a grain of salt.

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Through visual examination, anthropological studies, and technical analysis of Cross-River region cap masks there is considerable information available on the mask materiality. The heads are carved from wood, usually a soft wood for ease of carving. The hair (often horn shaped, but can take on other forms as well) can be carved from wood, or constructed with plant fiber, animal hair, or human hair. The wooden hair is attached via mortise and tenon joins, or stuck in as pegs. This particular object has animal horns for hair, which seems unusual. It is almost certain the horns are replacements, and the original hair material is unknown. The horns are secured using a peg that attaches to the head and the inside of the horn, as they are hollow. The skin is often animal, specifically duiker, antelope, or sheep. Oils are sometimes applied to the skin. The teeth can be carved in relief or carved separately and affixed to the mouth. When carved separately the potential materials are wood, bone, ivory, metal, or teeth from animals. The eyes are often carved in relief but are sometimes covered with metal. The mask decorations can be dyes and pigments constructed from tree bark, plant saps, fruit and leaf extracts potentially with a proteinaceous binder. The material identification is somewhat limited here as these plants are often described with their local names and not their scientific names, making it difficult for non-locals to identify the specific type of plant. Symbols and decorations can be applied via pigment, or dye, or are carved into the mask. 

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