egungun mask, unrecorded Oyo artist

In Yoruba culture, the annual egungun masquerade invokes spiritual incarnations of familial ancestors, including Yoruba Muslims, practitioners of traditional Yoruba religion, and those who practiced elements of both (religious pluralism). Upon donning the mask, the male wearer becomes the physical embodiment of the ancestors. Through the presence of the egungun, the ancestors restore balance and order to the community and assign penalties for minor transgressions. Often accompanied by drummers, the masqueraders move freely through town, participate in organized ceremonies, and dance so that the cloth strips of their costumes swirl like a fan.
Through fabric and design choices, the male family members who made this mask invoked particular ancestors. The artists prominently incorporated an Islamic prayer mat, perhaps to recall an ancestor who practiced Islam and Yoruba traditional religion.

The vast-reaching Yoruba culture stretches across Nigeria and the African Diaspora and includes Muslims, Christians, followers of traditional Yoruba religion, and those who practice elements of multiple religions. The Yoruba word Egúngún holds two meanings: generally, it is the name of an annual masquerade; more specifically, it refers to the ancestors in the spirit realm, or the ará òrun ‘kìnkin’ (inhabitants of heaven). In the Yoruba religion, the spiritual and physical realms intersect. By living a morally good life and surviving into old age, one can become an ancestor upon death. These ancestors remain involved in family and community affairs, especially through the Egúngún festival.

The Egúngún festival, held annually between June and December, lasts one or two weeks, with each town holding its festival at different times according to local tradition. During the masquerade, the Egúngún emerge from the family compounds and walk the streets, often accompanied by drummers. Upon donning the mask for the festival, the male wearer becomes the incarnation of the ancestors who return to restore order and balance to the community. The wearer must not reveal his identity, either through his voice or by removing the mask in public. While men make and wear the costume, women participate in the festival by singing songs praising the ancestral lineage and responding to the masked spirit.

Each Egúngún mask is unique. Textiles play an important role in Yoruba culture, as they represent wealth and social status. These status markers extend to the ancestors via the Egúngún mask. The male members of a family group create the mask, either with a specific ancestor in mind, or ancestors in general. If evocative of a specific individual, the designs will incorporate textiles and motifs representing that particular ancestor. For example, in this Egúngún mask, the makers incorporated an Islamic prayer mat. Perhaps the ancestor they sought to invoke was a Muslim (especially because the Oyo region is historically linked to Islam) or practiced religious pluralism, meaning that the ancestor followed both Islam and Yoruba traditional religion.

Written by Jennifer Wegmann Gab.

In Yoruba culture, the annual egungun masquerade invokes spiritual incarnations of familial ancestors, including Yoruba Muslims, practitioners of traditional Yoruba religion, and those who practiced elements of both (religious pluralism). Upon donning the mask, the male wearer becomes the physical embodiment of the ancestors. Through the presence of the egungun, the ancestors restore balance and order to the community and assign penalties for minor transgressions. Often accompanied by drummers, the masqueraders move freely through town, participate in organized ceremonies, and dance so that the cloth strips of their costumes swirl like a fan.
Through fabric and design choices, the male family members who made this mask invoked particular ancestors. The artists prominently incorporated an Islamic prayer mat, perhaps to recall an ancestor who practiced Islam and Yoruba traditional religion.

Tap the video icon above to view videos of egungun masquerades.

Yoruba egungun masks are worn by men during masquerades that honor the ancestors of the wearer. In many museums, masks are often stripped of their costumes, leaving behind only the carved wooden sculpture at the top. However, the many elaborate layers of cloth on the egungun are central to understanding how the mask would have functioned in Yoruba masquerades. Social prestige and wealth are often communicated through clothing in Yoruba society, so the egungun masks are covered with strips of expensive fabric in a multitude of colors and textures to convey the importance of the ancestor’s lineage.

Because the egungun masks are worn year after year, layers of cloth accumulate each time it is used. The layers of cloth also create dynamic movement when a dancer performs. The twirling cloth creates a breeze that bestows blessings of the honored ancestors on spectators. Accompanied by numerous musicians and women singing the oriki, or “praises of the ancestors,” the performance of the egungun masquerade is a large community event that unites people in celebration

Yoruba egungun masks are worn by men during masquerades that honor the ancestors of the wearer. In many museums, masks are often stripped of their costumes, leaving behind only the carved wooden sculpture at the top. However, the many elaborate layers of cloth on the egungun are central to understanding how the mask would have functioned in Yoruba masquerades. Social prestige and wealth are often communicated through clothing in Yoruba society, so the egungun masks are covered with strips of expensive fabric in a multitude of colors and textures to convey the importance of the ancestor’s lineage.

Since the egungun masks are worn year after year, layers of cloth accumulate each time it is used. The layers of cloth also create dynamic movement when a dancer performs. The twirling cloth creates a breeze that bestows blessings of the honored ancestors on spectators. Accompanied by numerous musicians and women singing the oriki, or “praises of the ancestors,” the performance of the egungun masquerade is a large community event that unites people in celebration.

Yoruba egungun masks are worn by men during masquerades that honor the ancestors of the wearer. In many museums, masks are often stripped of their costumes, leaving behind only the carved wooden sculpture at the top. However, the many elaborate layers of cloth on the egungun are central to understanding how the mask would have functioned in Yoruba masquerades. Social prestige and wealth are often communicated through clothing in Yoruba society, so the egungun masks are covered with strips of expensive fabric in a multitude of colors and textures to convey the importance of the ancestor’s lineage.

Since the egungun masks are worn year after year, layers of cloth accumulate each time it is used. The layers of cloth also create dynamic movement when a dancer performs. The twirling cloth creates a breeze that bestows blessings of the honored ancestors on spectators. Accompanied by numerous musicians and women singing the oriki, or “praises of the ancestors,” the performance of the egungun masquerade is a large community event that unites people in celebration.