This Mask Contains a Real Human Skull

This terrifying-looking object is an Ejagham Crest Mask from the Cross River region of Nigeria, believed to date to the 19th century. Traditional crest masks were typically made using a wooden framework covered with antelope hide and were worn during dances, ceremonies and important community events. But this particular mask is unusual because, instead of a wooden head inside, it contains a real human skull. Some researchers have suggested that such objects may have been connected to warriors keeping the heads of defeated enemies, possibly as a way of symbolically possessing their strength. However, this remains a hypothesis and has not been conclusively proven. The people associated with these masks are known as the **Ekoi or Ejagham**, who primarily live around Nigeria's Cross River region and parts of neighbouring Cameroon. Their culture is also closely associated with the Ekpe tradition and the distinctive Nsibidi system of symbols. 📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/archevault 📺 Main Channel: @Archevault