Note: A photo of this complete Head Crest follows.

A bit of a closer look at one of the two faces which adorn this magnificent Head Crest created by the Ekoi-speaking Ejagham Tribe who inhabit the Cross River portion of Nigeria and Cameroon. The Ejagham Tribe conduct economic commerce and other inter-tribal interaction with their neighbors through exchange and sale of various spiritually-inspired creations for use in ceremonies, secret society rituals, etc.

The workmanship on this three foot tall piece of artwork is quite astonishing - most especially when viewed first-hand...with inserted teeth, individually carved then skin-covered "curls" etc...an astoundingly labor intensive undertaking, to state the obvious.

This superb artwork is one of the most stupendous illustrations of spiritually-spawned creativity residing within my sanctum.

An interesting "Ejagham/Ekoi" overview:

http://www.randafricanart.com/Ekoi.html