egungun mask, unrecorded Oyo artist

Exhibition Label: "Roots and Journeys: Encountering Global Arts and Cultures," Jul-2011, Nancy Mahaney 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. Exhibition Label: "For Life's Sake: Arts from Africa," Oct-1983, Reinhild Kauenhoven Janzen This mask, complete with its elaborate and voluminous costume, was danced in a masking society called "Egungun," for ritual and entertainment purposes. The carved headdress is worn on top of the dancer's head so that he can see through the face netting and yet remain completely disguised to the viewers. The exaggerated bulging eyes are intended to imbue the mask with extraordinary sight. The horn-like projection at the top signifies the presence of powerful substances that bestow supernatural powers. The chipped pointed teeth are an old fashion among the Yoruba as are the facial markings. The cloth ring around the headdress may be filled with "medicines" and the tin trinkets attached to the face netting are signs of prestige. (Henry Drewal)