Maiden Spirit Helmet Mask (Agbogho Mmwo)
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Object Label
Agbogho mmwo, or "maiden spirit," masks are worn by men at festivals that honor important deities. They represent the Igbo ideal of female beauty: small, balanced features, elaborate hairstyles, and delicate tattoos. The men who dance agbogho mmwo masks wear colorful, tight-fitting fiber costumes, entertaining the crowd with exaggerated versions of women's dances.
Caption
Igbo. Maiden Spirit Helmet Mask (Agbogho Mmwo), early 20th century. Wood, pigment, string, 19 3/4 x 5 3/4 x 12 in. (50.2 x 14.6 x 30.5 cm). Brooklyn Museum, Gift of Marc and Ruth Franklin in memory of Lillian S. Korzenik, 87.215. (Photo: Brooklyn Museum)
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Culture
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