Nigerian Ogoni People Mask: "Elu"

This is a Nigerian Ogoni People spirt mask, called an "elu." Elu masks are used to communicate with the spirt world. The color white, here from applied kaolin, is associated with the spirit world. Young men members of a secret society wear such masks and costumes to perform at funerals and annual agricultural ceremonies.

Too small to be worn on the face, the elu is instead attached to a conical cloth cap that covers the entire head of the dancer. The hinged jaw causes the mask’s mouth to open and close during the dance with a clicking sound.

See also: https://africa.uima.uiowa.edu/media/index?ObjectType=2&ObjectMuseum=&ObjectCollection=&ObjectMedium=&MediaType=Image&Country=17&People=&Chapter=&action_=Use+Filter
Source:
https://www.maskmuseum.org/mask/ogoni-elu-1/
https://tribalnow.wordpress.com/2018/05/05/elu-masks-ogoni-people-port-harcourt-nigeria/
https://africa.uima.uiowa.edu/media/photos/show/69?back=media/photos/show/69?back=media/index?ObjectType=2&ObjectMuseum=&ObjectCollection=&ObjectMedium=&MediaType=Image&Country=17&People=&Chapter=&action_=Use+Filter