Masquerade costume consists of an Ebonko head (name of the conical curving feature found on head piece is called Etundu); a tailored cloth shirt and trousers (known as Ofon Idem Ebonko); cloth mane worn on chest and wrapped around shoulders (Ofon Nyanya); two hand tufts with small bells worn around wrist (Ita Ubok); two leg tufts with small bells worn around ankle adorned with small bells (Ita Ukot); a winged hat worn on the back of the head (Itam Ekot), a Mbobo cloth girdle with decorative fold…

Ebonko Masquerade Costume

Artist Ekpenyong Bassey Nsa (Nigerian, born 1973)

Date2010

PurchasedCalabar, Nigeria

MediumMixed media

DimensionsGeneral size when costume is on form: 5 ft. 3 in. x 29 in. (160 x 73.7 cm)

ClassificationsClothing and accessories

Credit LineMuseum Purchase with funds provided from The Caroline Julier and James G. Richardson Acquisition Fund

Object number2010.68.1

Collections

AFRICAN

Visual DescriptionMasquerade costume consists of an Ebonko head (name of the conical curving feature found on head piece is called Etundu); a tailored cloth shirt and trousers (known as Ofon Idem Ebonko); cloth mane worn on chest and wrapped around shoulders (Ofon Nyanya); two hand tufts with small bells worn around wrist (Ita Ubok); two leg tufts with small bells worn around ankle adorned with small bells (Ita Ukot); a winged hat worn on the back of the head (Itam Ekot), a Mbobo cloth girdle with decorative folds; and a tri-colored abasonko plume held in left hand of Ebonko made of fine bird feathers.