What is the Eket Ibibio marionette statue made of?

This replica is cast in resin with a wood-toned finish. It measures 5.5 in H x 2 in W x 1.75 in D, weighs approximately 0.6 lbs, and includes a metal display stand. Product number AFR05.

Who are the Ibibio people and where do they come from?

The Ibibio are a people of southeastern Nigeria, concentrated in what is now Akwa Ibom State. The Eket are one of the regional groups within the broader Ibibio cultural area. Ibibio communities have a well-documented tradition of masquerades, performance, and figurative sculpture connected to social and ceremonial life.

How were Ibibio marionettes traditionally used?

Figures of this type were used as puppets in community performance contexts. In traditional examples, the arms were attached with pins so they could move during presentation. Performances combined music, masquerade, and theater, and could serve social, instructional, or ceremonial functions. The intense facial features, including prominent eyes and a long row of teeth, were intended to feel otherworldly to an audience.

Is a display stand included with this statue?

Yes. The statue comes with a metal display stand. Place it on a stable, flat surface. Dust gently with a soft dry cloth and avoid direct sunlight to preserve the finish.

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Eket Ibibio Marionette Statue – African Nigeria Replica 5.5H (AFR05)

Name: Eket Ibibio Marionette Statue – African Nigeria Replica 5.5H (AFR05)
SKU: AFR05
Price: 22.0 USD
Availability: InStock

Eket Ibibio Marionette Statue – African Nigeria Replica 5.5H (AFR05)

SKU:AFR05

$22.00 USD

~~$42.50 USD~~ $22.00 USD

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A Puppet Figure from Southeastern Nigeria's Ibibio Peoples

This Eket Ibibio marionette is a replica of puppet figures used by the Ibibio peoples of southeastern Nigeria, including the Eket region. In traditional examples, the arms were attached with pins so they could move during performance. The features are deliberately intense: rounded forms, prominent eyes, and a long row of teeth. They were designed to feel otherworldly to an audience.

This Eket Ibibio marionette is part of the Parastone Mouseion Museum Replica3D African collection. It is cast in resin with a wood-toned finish and includes a metal display stand.

Material: Resin with wood-toned finish
Size: 5.5 in H x 2 in W x 1.75 in D
Weight: approx. 0.6 lbs
Includes: Metal display stand
Collection: Parastone African Collection
Product Number: AFR05

Performance, Masks, and Community Life

In Ibibio cultural traditions, masked and costumed performances marked important community moments. They conveyed social authority, ancestral presence, and moral instruction. Public festivals combined music, masked performance, and theater. Puppet figures added motion and drama to these events, turning sculpture into something active and theatrical rather than purely ceremonial.

The Puppet Form and Ekon Marionettes

Figures of this type are associated with the Ekon tradition within Ibibio performance culture. The Metropolitan Museum of Art holds original examples in their African art collection. In functional examples, articulated arms allowed the puppet to gesture during presentation, giving the figure agency within the performance. The compact scale and strong facial expression of this Ibibio puppet statue replica preserve that visual intensity at display size.

Displaying Your Eket Ibibio Marionette

Place the statue on a stable surface using the included metal stand. The strong facial expression and compact scale make it work well as a focal object in a small vignette, bookcase, or cabinet. It pairs well with world-culture collections focused on masks, ritual performance, and spirit imagery. Dust gently with a soft, dry cloth. Avoid harsh cleaners and prolonged direct sunlight. Lift from the base when moving.