The Umomo masquerade of the Idoma tribe of Benue State, Nigeria.

The Umomo masquerade usually comes out during occasions like burials and new yam festivals. The person that usually wears the mask, mostly men, have to perform cleansing, because after wearing the mask the person is seen as a representative of the Alekwu (Alekwu is a traditional god of the Idoma, popularly believed amongst the people to have the power to protect, reward and punish sons and daughters of the land. The Idoma people believes that it could punish anyone who goes contrary to the morals, norms, cultures or traditions already laid down). A day before wearing it the person is not expected to sleep with a woman.