An Ogoni Mask, "karikpo" Lot n° 22

Mask, "karikpo" Ogoni, Nigeria Ohne Sockel / without base Wood. H 52 cm. Provenance: - according to H. and M. Zimmer: Galerie Africana, Antonio Fiacco, Zurich. - Helmut (1931-2021) and Marianne Zimmer, Zurich. Karikpo, the elegant horned animal, represents fertility, strength and grace. On the occasion of agricultural ceremonies and social events, the karikpo dance takes place at the village entrance and features acrobatic dances performed competitively by youths to the sounds of sacred drums. The Ogoni have inhabited the eastern edge of the Niger Delta in Nigeria for 500 years. According to legend, the ethnic group, which today numbers about 400,000 people and calls itself Kana, originates from the Gana Empire (9th-13th century in the border region of today's Mali and Mauritania). Culturally as well as linguistically they are today related to the neighboring Ibibio. Further reading: Anderson, Martha G. / Peek, Philip M. et al. (2002). Ways of Rivers. Los Angeles: Fowler Museum of Cultural History. CHF 200 / 400 EUR 200 / 400