|
|
| |
Here you can read about the plight of a culture that has been under seige since the late 1950's--all in the name of oil. Most of the masks shown here were field-collected by an Ogoni-American man named Orlando, who made a trip back to his delta homeland in the 1990's, and returned with many amazing masks and some wonderful stories. I have a couple pictures of Orlando with his Ogoni cousins--posing under an enormous tree! He was happy to reunite I am sure, but terribly saddened by what he saw...By the way, I have to thank James Rieger from Florida who sold me all the field-collected Ogoni pieces--a rare opportunity for any collector!!
|
Field-collected and the first piece I acquired from the seller. I feel very lucky to have stumbled upon such a fascinating group of objects. The sad state of affairs for the modern Ogoni make these rare histories even more poignant. Name of Mask and Dance: Kaalu; Village: Uwegwere Boue; State: Rivers State; Carved by Frank Iwerebe and danced by Deka Igbeg. This is one of the most familiar of Ogoni masks, and has the separately carved and inserted stick-like teeth common to them. Their mouths make a clacking sound when danced. This piece is beautifully preserved and measures about 8".
"A great artist...must be shaken by the naked truths that will not be comforted. This divine discontent, this equilibrium, this state of inner tension is the source of artistic energy." Goethe, 1749-1832.
|
Spectacular "karikpo" mask last used in 1984. Field-collected in Boue Kono, Rivers State, Nigeria. This mask measures 16" and was owned and danced by Dabari Ndobu.
The Ogoni, who were once a rather large culture of about a half a million, occupy the area of the Niger Delta, mostly in Rivers State. The delta was once an Eden with exotic plant and animal life everywhere, and it made a wonderful home for the Ogoni and a number of related groups. All this changed in the 1950's when Royal Shell found enormous reserves of oil..right in the middle of the Ogoni homelands. The next 50 years featured a rogue's gallery of oil companies and government officials who have enriched themselves at the expense of every living thing in the Delta. The habitat for that exquisite flora and fauna has been devastated, and the Ogoni have been driven from their territory. They tried to fight Shell, but they were outgunned--literally.
"The belief in a supernatural source of evil is not necessary, men alone are quite capable of every wickedness." Joseph Conrad, 1857-1924.
|
Dramatic 8" Ogoni mask with hinged jaw, probably used during the Yam Festival. I got this mask from Elizabeth Bennett of Africa Direct. Africa Direct features perhaps the world's largest online selection of African art, with over 10,000 pieces in their current inventory. The site is owned and operated by my good friends Elizabeth Bennett and Sara Luther. I have been a minor contributor to the site myself, assisting them when and where I can. They have taught me much, and their friendship will forever be cherished. If you are an African enthusiast, don't miss the experience offered at this astounding internet destination. www.africadirect.com
"The wicked are always surprised that the good can be clever." Marquis de Vauvenargues, 1715-1747.
|
A bizarre, field-collected example! Here is the information provided by the collector: "Name of Mask: Gbozoo; Dance: Koromum; Worn by Mr. Friday Iwerebe; Carved by Chief Uranee. This mask celebrates the new Yam Festival. With 21 masks, Gbozoo is "ranked" 5th in the Koromum. It is for men, and exclusively for members only. New members are admitted once a year, and will have to go through the initiation rites with drinks (local gin), and fish meal. The rites are known only to members." This mask measures 8" and is jet-black from use.
"There is nothing ugly; I never saw an ugly thing in my life: for let the form of an object be what it may; light, shade, and perspective will always make it beautiful." John Constable, 1776-1837.
|
A fantastic example of an Ogoni mask. The dramatic contrasts in black and white are quite startling. It is sad that masks like these are almost certainly no longer in use, since civil strife, pollution and interference by an historically corrupt central government have diluted almost all of the original Delta cultures. "Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable." John Fitzgerald Kennedy, 1917-1963.
|
An incredible and powerful field-collected mask of unprecedented(?) size. It is so heavy that I was scared to move it from its position high over the stairwell, so I am sorry about the poor photograph! Here is what I know about this rare piece: "Mask Type: Ekpo; Village: Boue Kono, Rivers State; Carver: Monday Gbenegbara; Danced by: Sisi Anagbara. The Ogoni do not have an Ekpo Society. The Ekpo dance was borrowed from their neighbors the Ibibio because they enjoyed it." By the way, the mask measures 27"x18"x10" and is almost 2" thick!!!!
"An intellectual is a man who says a simple thing in a difficult way; an artist is a man who says a difficult thing in a simple way." Charles Bukowski, 1920-1994.
|
Small field-collected "karikpo" mask with regalia. A stunning little piece which resides in my stairwell. "Lo! I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold;
Grey hairs and golden leaves cry out
The year and I are old.
In youth I sought the prince of men,
Captain in cosmic wars,
Our Titan, even the weeds would show
Defiant, to the stars.
But now a great thing in the street
Seems any human nod,
Where shift in strange democracy
The million masks of God.
In youth I sought the golden flower
Hidden in wood or wold,
But I am come to autumn,
When all the leaves are gold." "Gold Leaves." Chesterton
|
|
|
