Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 70 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 70 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equatorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In the case of this air mail stamp, the artifact depicted is an ivory pendant, probably worn around the neck, rather than an actual mask, from the Edo people of Benin around the 16th century CE.

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Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 5 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 5 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equatorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In this case, the mask is an unknown type.

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Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 0.25 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 0.25 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equatorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In this case, the mask is an unknown type.

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Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 0.20 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 0.20 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equatorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In this case, the mask appears to be from the Dan people of Côte d’Ivoire and Liberia.

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Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 0.15 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 0.15 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equatorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In this case, the mask appears to be from the Punu people of Gabon.

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Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 0.10 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 0.10 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equatorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equatorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In this case, the mask appears to be from the Yaure people of Côte d’Ivoire.

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Equatorial Guinea 1977 – 0.05 ekuele

REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
YEAR PRINTED: 1977
VALUE: 0.05 ekuele

This stamp is one of a series of seven issued by the government of Equitorial Guinea to celebrate the masks of Africa. Each stamp depicts a more or less abstract painting of an African mask. Although the Fang people who inhabit most of Equitorial Guinea have a rich masquerading culture, oddly most masks in this stamp series come from cultures outside the country. In this case, the mask appears to be from the Bambara people of Mali, Guinea, and Burkina Faso.

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Fang Ngil Mask

TITLE: Fang Ngil Mask
TYPE: face mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Equatorial Guinea
ETHNICITY: Fang
DESCRIPTION: Ngil Mask
CATALOG ID: AFGQ001
MAKER: Unknown
CEREMONY: Purification; Secret Society; Social Control
AGE: late 20th century
MAIN MATERIAL: wood
OTHER MATERIALS: kaolin clay

The Fang people inhabit Equatorial Guinea, northern Gabon and Cameroon and are divided between followers of their traditional animist  religion, byeri, and the Catholicism of their French colonizers. The Ngil Secret Society is responsible for social control by assembling in the night to punish sorcerers and purify the village of evil. The Society’s masks are made to resemble the powerful gorilla, and a full suit of raffia fiber is worn to enhance the effect of furriness.

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