Egungun (lit. “power concealed") is the spiritual embodiment of the Yoruba
groups’ ancestors, which were honored in masquerade ceremonies
(Odun Egungun). The performers entered
trances and were possessed by ancestral spirits.
The aim of the ceremonies was to maintain the moral standards of previous
generations: the dancers spiritually cleansed the community by lampooning
morally questionable behaviour known to have been perpetrated by
members of the audience. The masks were worn atop the heads of the
performers, and with elaborate costumes which concealed the dancers’
identities, ensuring their safety from potential retribution.
There are numerous variants of Egungun masks, all of which generally refer
to the Yoruba people but also to subdivisions of the tribe, as well as village
history, family history and even personal history of the carver.
Height: 13" x 9 ˝" from front to back (depth) and 9" from side to side (width).
