Artist: Attributed to Ajere Elewe of Epe
Yoruba peoples, Opin area, Nigeria
Late 19th to mid-20th century
Wood, pigment
69.7 x 38.5 x 13 cm (27 7/16 x 15 3/16 x 5 1/8 in.)
2005-6-77, gift of Walt Disney World Co., a subsidiary of The Walt Disney Company (cat. no. 13)
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One of the names for this mask is oloju foforo, which means "the owner of the deep-set eyes" and refers to the holes through which the wearer sees. It is also called epa oloyiya, or "owner of combs." Projections from the head hold symbolic value for the Yoruba. The combs on this mask may serve as symbols of the life force inherent in all living things as well as a mark of honor to a Yoruba woman's spiritual self or inner head.
This type of mask is unique to a dozen villages populated by the Opin Yoruba clan in the northeast region of Yorubaland. According to field informants, it was one of three epa masks that belonged to one family and appeared during the funerals for the family and the local ruler.
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