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Living on the left bank of the 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, regulates 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.
Two principal types of mask are found among the Mumuye. The first is a face mask displaying two large hollowed eye sockets which may have been used during initiation rites. The second type is a shoulder mask, known as Sukwava, which displays an elongated neck set under a diminutive head with large ears. Traditionally, they were used during pre-war ceremonies, but now they are worn during rain-making and healing practices.
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