Wurkun or Bikwin
Benue River valley, Nigeria
Coastal West Africa
Headdress
INV-1237
Wurkun or Bikwin
Benue River valley, Nigeria
Coastal West AfricaEarly to mid–20th century
wurkunArts of Africaafrican Artbikwinmasksarts of Africa
Date
Early to mid–20th century
Medium
Wood and rope
Dimensions
114.3 × 38.1 × 45.8 cm (45 × 15 × 18 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
Gift of the Kranzler and Saltzman families in memory of Dr. Leonard I. Kranzler and Dr. K. Jeffery Kranzler
This shoulder mask was a type of sculpture shared by different peoples in central Nigeria’s Benue River region. It would have been worn with a fiber costume and danced during secretive nocturnal performances and at agricultural ceremonies, as well as puberty rituals ushering young boys into adulthood. In the first half of the 20th century the introduction of Christianity and Islam led to the abandonment of this masking tradition.
Also notable
Works in the same vein
Self-Portrait
Walter Shirlaw (American, 1838–1909)
Martin Vanden Bogaert Desjardins
Gérard Edelinck (French, born Flanders, 1640-1707) after Hyacinthe Rigaud (French, 1659-1743)
Remembrance of Italy
Jean-Baptiste-Camille Corot (French, 1796-1875) printed by Auguste Delâtre (French, 1822-1907) published by Cadart et Chavalier, Editeurs (French, 1801-1900)
Priest and Boy
Lawrence Carmichael Earle American, 1845-1921