TITLE: Angas Helmet Mask
TYPE: helmet mask
GENERAL REGION: Africa
COUNTRY: Nigeria
ETHNICITY: Angas (Ngass)
DESCRIPTION: helmet-form dance mask
CATALOG ID: N/A
MAKER: N/A
FUNCTION: Adult Initiation; Agriculture/Hunting; Secret Society
AGE: N/A
MAIN MATERIAL: woven vegetable fiber
OTHER MATERIALS: abrus seeds; animal hair; thread; cotton balls
The Angas, or Ngass, people of northeastern Nigeria have a secret men’s society charged with performing dance rituals for male adult initiation, usually at harvest time. The dance is intended to ensure a prolific harvest and to teach young men the rituals of adulthood.
The Museum currently has no representative example of any Angas mask in its collection.
