AW22 “I am not myself” a sacred grove by @bubuogisi Now showing from May 7 to 29 August at @the_tetley museum Many archives in museums and private collections have only the aesthetically appealing wooden face and head leaving out the main bodice costume made from wool, textiles, sheet metal, glass beads, cowries, plant fibre, animal hides, feathers, as well as the maskers paraphernalia despite the fact that all these often play a vital role in the mask dances. We aimed to highlight this in this exhibition using a variety of the above materials sourced between, Nigeria, Uganda, Tanzania, Kenya, Ghana, Burkina Faso and Cote d’iviore. Inspired by masquerades like the Nwantantay of Burkina Faso, Gonde of Sierra Leone, the Kpeli yehe and Bedu of Cote d’Iviore, Ogbodo enyi of Nigeria and Giwoyo, Ngaady and Mfondo of the Democratic republic of Congo. A considerable proportion of the masks originating in Africa are made for one or another of the numerous “secret” societies, these organizations are diverse and complex in nature that no general description fits them. Usually purely masculine, yet the exclusion of women is not strictly practiced everywhere. The adjective “secret” refers to the jealously guarded knowledge of procedures and certain rituals objects, which are thought to contain supernatural powers. IANM4 Handmade wool appliqué made in Kano, Nigeria on Handwoven cotton base made in Tamale Ghana photography by @h_cato