Description:

These colourful highly stylised masks were made for and used during the masquerades of the Tiv people of Central Nigeria.

 

Kwagh-hir (something magical or a thing of magic) is a multipart culturally edifying art form of the Tiv people of central Nigeria. It is a dramatic public performance telling moral stories of past and current events and incorporates puppetry, masquerading, poetry, music, dance, and animated narratives to portray its moral themes. The Tiv people use it to reinforce traditional beliefs and convey otherworldly tales to educate, socialize, provide secular entertainment, and address societal issues