Mumuye

Living on the left bank of th Benue River, the 400,000 Mumuye people intensively farm an area of plains. Socially, they are divided into small family groups called Dola, which are headed by a council of elders with an elected leader. The Vabong secret society, of which there are seven grades, regulated Mumuye religious life. Entry into the society is achieved through initiation ceremonies which include flagellation and an explanation of the meaning of masks and other magical objects.

Mumuye artists are famous for their wooden statues known as Iagalagana. These figures vary from 30 to 160 cm in height and display elongated features and exaggerated ear lobes. Carved by blacksmiths or weavers, they are kept in a separate hut located on a family compound, and are entrusted to the family member who has magical powers. The Iagalagana have divination, apotropaic and rainmaking functions, and serve as prestige objects.