The Ogoni people are an ethnic minority group indigenous to Ogoniland, a region in the Niger Delta of southern Nigeria. Historically, they were a peaceful, agricultural, and fishing community whose lives were devastated by large-scale oil spills, pollution, and environmental degradation caused by oil exploration starting in the 1970s. Their struggle for environmental justice and rights gained international attention through the efforts of environmental activist Ken Saro-Wiwa, who led the Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). The Ekpo society is a secretive, male-only cultural institution, also known as the "ghost society," originating from the Efik, Ibibio, and Annang peoples of Nigeria. Known for its fearsome masquerades, it serves to enforce ancestral norms, uphold social order, and maintain spiritual beliefs regarding the afterlife and the influence of ancestors. Members impersonate ancestors to instill fear in non-initiates, particularly women, who are excluded from the society's core activities and rituals.

Anthropozoomorphic face mask of the
"ekpo" society
wood, heavily encrusted patina
early 20th century
Ogoni people
Nigeria

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