Headdress: Janus
Not on view
Ijebu water-spirit masks are used in performances that are a part of a festival known as Agbo. The event is announced by the appearance of a water-mask in the form of an elegant elaborately coiffed woman. This mask's two hornlike projections are braids that recall coiffures worn by Ijebu priests, queens, and elders.
Diverse masks refer to the spirit entities that are perceived to inhabit coastal lagoons. Ijebu's ports have historically served as sources of commercial prosperity and cultural exchange. Inspiration for this Ijebu art form has come from the masquerades of neighboring Ijo peoples, a powerful cultural influence.
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