Female Mask

Description

In some areas of Iboland, festivals are held in which men dance wearing masks representing ideal female beauty. These festivals are meant to honor youthful feminine beauty and to call attention to the source of wealth which young women will bring to their families when they marry. Facial features on these masks are generally exaggerated ideals of beauty, including fine lines and a small mouth. Though the masks are usually white, more recent examples (since the 1930s) may include red, yellow, orange, or blue pigments.