ÉJAGAM / EKOI, Nigeria - Lot 409

ÉJAGAM / EKOI, Nigeria Dance crest with expressive face rattan, leather-covered wood, remnants of natural white pigments, old patina and wear marks 25.5 × 14 cm Height 33 cm (total). Note: The Éjagam, closely related to the Ekoi, live in the Cross River region of southeastern Nigeria, close to the Cameroon border. They developed traditions linked to initiation societies and the representation of authority figures. These dance crests, worn on the head, are used in public ceremonies. The face, marked by circular motifs evoking identity or solar signs, and the structured openwork headdress, are part of a codified staging of status. The object thus embodies a valued presence, where expressivity, ornamentation and formal construction reflect the wearer's social role in the ritual setting.