egungun mask

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.