1974.Sc.29 Standing female figure

Igbo girls who had been initiated into womanhood were adorned with a crested hairstyle decorated with disks of mother of pearl or brass, facial and body painting, ivory armlets and brass leg rings, and reddish coloring. The process, called nkpu, entailed being isolated from the community while the girls did no work but devoted their time to learning from select village women how to be beautiful, both physically and morally. They also learned how to be virtuous and dutiful wives, housekeepers, and nurturing mothers. A celebratory parade reintroduced the initiated women into the village, which honored them with gifts.

Freestanding figures like this one were commissioned by a men’s age-grade association for display at secular public festivals held annually. During the festival, members paraded them around the village—much like the nkpu girls they portray and honor—and when the girls performed, the statue was a stationary display.

Roslyn A. Walker, Label text, Arts of Africa, 2015.

The molded hairstyle with center crest worn by the Igbo women of Nigeria in the early 20th century is refl ected in their sculptural

representations of nubile females. From The Secret Museum of Mankind (New York: Manhattan House, [1935?]), 188989218: UMO