Face Mask (Mfon Ekpo)

This mask represents an idealized woman. Danced only by initiated men, its performances express concepts about ideal womanhood, physical beauty, and moral human behavior. The Mfon ekpo mask represents a physically beautiful and morally pure young woman, signified here by the oval face, lustrous skin, and tripartite braided hairstyle. Meaning "beautiful soul", Mfon ekpo is danced by members of the Ekpo society. She embodies the benevolent, feminine character of the ancestors and performs in opposition to a malevolent, masculine character, Idiok ekpo, who wears a darkened mask with distorted facial features. Together, they represent the duality of the human spirit.