In the southeastern forest region of Nigeria, village groupings
are small and politically decentralized. Headdresses covered
with leather are made by many different peoples living in
villages along the Cross River and in Cameroon. These
exceptional headdresses are owned by associations whose members
are men or women of the same generation; membership is often
further restricted to those who have performed certain feats or
are proficient in particular skills. In the past, for example,
there were associations of hunters who had killed leopards.The
headdresses, which bear the same name as the society that owns
them, are worn during funerals and initiations. Some are
startlingly naturalistic and may be portraits of known
individuals; others are highly stylized. There are three overall
types: helmet masks that cover the wearer's head entirely, masks
that cover only the face, and headdresses that, like this one,
are attached to basketry caps worn on top of the head.To make a
headdress, the artist carves the form fr