Tinted lantern slide showing ten boy performers in a masked play. Three of the boys in the back row wear palm or straw costumes and cover their faces with masks. Boys on the front row hold up masks. Epke (meaning "leopard") masquerade has a long history in Nigeria, and is a cultural play popular among Ekik and Ibibio groups. Traditional masks were made with animal skin. Epke mimics the movements of animals, and was traditionally used in order to enforce laws, and is also practised on festival days. Taking part in epke masquerades was traditionally and is for men only, and women are barred from seeing certain masquerades. This slide comes from a set on mission, culture and industry in Calabar, southeast Nigeria generated by the Church of Scotland and the United Free Church of Scotland (which was incorporated with the Church of Scotland in 1929.)
Format
lantern slides 8.2 x 8.2cm lantern slides photographs
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