Òménkà at Work (1/2)

An Òménkà, or skilled artisan, diligently carves what appears to be a fish-shaped headdress for use in an upcoming Owu Drama. The masking traditions of the Igbo of this area reflect the influence of the artistic styles of neighboring riverine peoples, due to the presence of these large and intricate headpieces. These detailed designs and shapes, which were fashioned traditionally without modern machinery or equipment, reflect the skill of the carver and the richness of indigenous carving traditions which the Ikwere have nursed for centuries.

Region: Ikwere land, circa 1930.

Photo: G.I. Jones

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