The Ibo numbering from eight to ten million occupy the plateaus of southeastern Nigeria. The majority of Igbo are farmers. Their staple crop is yam, and its harvesting is a time for great celebration. They also hunt and fish, and are involved in commerce. The lack of overall centralization among the Igbo-speaking peoples has been conducive to the development of a great variety of art styles and cultural practices. The Igbo use thousands of masks, which incarnate unspecified spirits of the dead, forming a vast community of souls. The outstanding characteristic of the many Igbo masks is that they are painted chalk white, the color of the spirit. Masks were used by secret societies for agricultural and funeral ceremonies. Masked dancers wore extremely elaborate costumes. Today their function is limited largely to entertainment.
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