Artwork Page for Headdress (Ẹpa) called Atófòjọ́wò (“You Can Look at It for a Whole Day”)

Details / Information for Headdress (Ẹpa) called Atófòjọ́wò (“You Can Look at It for a Whole Day”)

Headdress (Ẹpa) called Atófòjọ́wò (“You Can Look at It for a Whole Day”)

1920–30

Moshood Olusomo Bámigbóyè

(Nigerian, c. 1885–1975)
Culture
Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá peoples
Medium
Wood and paint
Measurements
Overall: 134 x 57.9 x 62.5 cm (52 3/4 x 22 13/16 x 24 5/8 in.)
Weight: 44.25 lb
Credit Line
John L. Severance Fund and Gift of Mary Price 1991.165
Copyright
Copyright
This artwork is known to be under copyright.
Location
001A ArtLens Exhibition
Print
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Did You Know?

Performing this Ẹpa mask was an impressive feat of strength; it weighs nearly 45 pounds!

Description

Carved from a single block of wood, this stunning example of Bámigbóyè's complex style was carved when the artist was in his late twenties while living in Omu in his native Ilorin Province. Ẹpa masks were performed during an annual or biannual week-long festival. This mask appeared at the festival’s climactic conclusion. The elaborate superstructure revolves around the figure of a richly adorned ruler on horseback carrying a sword and wearing protective amulets on his arms. Three tiers of surrounding small-scale attendants—including messengers, musicians, warriors, and praise singers—represent a scene of court life in miniature, and testify to the warrior-king’s power and prestige.
Dark brown wood headdress with chipped white and black paint. At the base, a squat face constructed from geometric shapes supports a platform on its head at the center of which is an angular horse flanked by smaller human figures, stacked on top of one another. On the back of the horse sits the largest human figure with a geometrically patterned ring curving under their chin and up to a wide-rimmed hat with tassels.

Headdress (Ẹpa) called Atófòjọ́wò (“You Can Look at It for a Whole Day”)

1920–30

Moshood Olusomo Bámigbóyè

(Nigerian, c. 1885–1975)
Africa, West Africa, Nigeria, Yorùbá peoples

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