Egungun Masquerades - Yoruba
These particular egungun masks portray two Europeans, which can be seen with the use of light paint for the skin tone. The egungun European masqueraders present morality. In addition to the European masquerader masks, there are textile egungun masqueraders as well, covered in cloth from head to toe. In this instance, the masqueraders are merely appearing to entertain when ancestors are venerated.[1] Other masquerades have to do with impersonating the deceased as they come back to the human world to check and make sure everything is still all and well. The Egungun then spiritually cleanse the community and through exaggerated acting and miming, demonstrate the ethical and unethical behavior that occurred since their last visit, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of the community with the hope of encouraging behavior.[2] Once this is done, messages, warnings, and blessings are given to the gathered spectators.
[1] Monica Blackmun Visona, Robin Poynor, and Herbert M. Cole. A History of Art in Africa: Second Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2008), 121.
[2] Henry John Drewal and John Pemberton. Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought (New York: Center for African Art in Association with H.M. Abrams, 1989), 195.
[1] Monica Blackmun Visona, Robin Poynor, and Herbert M. Cole. A History of Art in Africa: Second Edition (New Jersey: Pearson, 2008), 121.
[2] Henry John Drewal and John Pemberton. Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought (New York: Center for African Art in Association with H.M. Abrams, 1989), 195.