Hektoen International

A Journal of Medical Humanities

Tag: Ibibio

  • A conspicuous eye problem in sickness masks from Southeast Nigeria

    Peter de SmetNijmegen, Netherlands The Ibibio and Igbo peoples in southern Nigeria commemorate their deceased ancestors in masquerades, in which beautiful masks depict good ancestors, while ugly masks portray those who roam about as spirits inflicting illness and misfortune if moral laws are broken. These ugly masks may show twisted or eaten-away noses and lips,…