Ibibio Mask, Nigeria

Ibibio masks originate from the Ibibio people of southeastern Nigeria, particularly the Akwa Ibom and Cross River states, and have been central to the Ekpo society's rituals concerning ancestors, justice, and social order for centuries. These masks are renowned for their distinctive naturalistic or distorted facial features, movable jaws, and expressive forms that embody spirits of the deceased. Highly sought after in the international art market, Ibibio masks represent some of the most powerful and aesthetically complex works of traditional African sculpture.