OGONI MASK

£650.00

Out of stock

OGONI MASK with hinged mouth

Nigeria, Cross River region, early 20th century

19cm x 13cm x 29cm

Out of stock

Product Description

According to oral tradition, the Ogoni people migrated from ancient Ghana down to the Atlantic coast eventually making their way over to the eastern Niger Delta. Linguistic calculations place the Ogoni as having lived in the Niger Delta since 15 BC or earlier, making them one of the oldest settlers in the eastern Niger Delta region. Radiocarbon dating taken from sites around Ogoniland, and the neighbouring communities oral traditions also support this claim.

At the turn of the twentieth century, “the world to them did not extend beyond the next three or four villages”, but that soon changed when they were they overwhelmed by the forces of colonialism, and the exploitation of their rich oil reserves.