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The Kalabari observe a 25-year ritual cycle in which masquerades are presented in honor of village heroes, ancestors and water spirits. In December 1984, Douglas Camp attended the centenary festival celebrating the founding of her hometown of Buguma. The celebration recreated the migration of her ancestors to Buguma and featured religious services, dances by women’s associations, a regatta of large canoes and the festival that signals the formal ending of a ritual cycle. The sights, sounds and drama of this and other Kalabari celebrations that the artist witnessed were the inspiration for a series of sculptures that work both collectively and independently—a huge festival boat with masqueraders, musicians and members of the audience. |
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Three sculptures from this series now in the museum’s permanent collection include: |
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