The Ibibio people are a coastal people in southern Nigeria, who  live in an area between the Delta and the Cross River. They are mainly rainforest cultivators of yams, taro, and cassava, and they export mostly palm oil and palm kernels. They are especially noted for their skillful wood carving.

The Ibibio live in villages led by a chief elected from the most honorable heads of important families.  Their social life is regulated by three secret societies which incorporate masks into their annual ceremonies which serve in these ceremonies to execute social control.  The most important of these societies and their political system is the Ekpo, which is responsible for the cult of the ancestors, who are in turn responsible for the welfare of the tribe. In Ibibio ceremonies, two main types of mask appear. The first, known as Mfon, has an articulated jaw and represents a ‘beautiful’ spirit who has attained eternal bliss. The second mask, called Idiok, is thought to represent a hell-dwelling spirit and is carved with a typical emaciated face, possibly alluding to ill-health.

Source:  Baquart, Jean-Baptiste. The Tribal Arts of Africa. New York: Thames and Hudson Inc. 1998. Print.