Ogoni Yam Festival Mask. Delta Region. Nigeria Start Price USD 390.00 Current Price USD 390.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, July 16, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Location Denver, CO See more about 'Ogoni Yam Festival Mask. Delta Region. Nigeria' Description Yam Festival Mask. Ogoni. Delta Region. Nigeria. Height is 12 inches. Wood, stain. Mid 20th Century.A stunning Ogoni mask. The Ogoni, like many groups throughout West Africa, have traditionally celebrated the harvest of important crops, like yams, with masked dances. Masks with hinged jaws are used by both the Ogoni and their neighbors the Ibibio for harvest festivals, as the moveable lower jaw would make a happy, clacking sound when the dancers jumped up and down. Identification and attribution of masks from the Niger Delta region can be difficult, since they were often carved by members of adjacent cultures for sale/trade to their neighbors. It is well-known that a number of Delta peoples, including the Ogoni, have used Ibibio carvers extensively in the past. The lives of the Ogoni have been severely disrupted by the pollution caused by oil drilling in their historic homelands, and this has caused thousands of them to move inland and disperse. As a result they have abandoned many of their ritual ceremonies, and their masks have become highly collectible. This is a fine example, with a charming face and a wonderful encrusted patina. For a fabulous photographic display of the masks from the Niger Delta, see the G.I. Jones Collection.**030000** All content, including pictures, Copyright Africa Direct Inc., 2006 Add Us To Your Favorite Sellers! Please visit our About Us page. SquareTrade © AP6.0 PesaMember Place a Bid!