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Gallery Themes : Egungun Masquerade

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navigation symbol Egungun Masquerade
navigation symbol About Egúngún performance
navigation symbol The costume mask
navigation symbol Remembering an Egúngún
navigation symbol Egúngún as a theme in Performance Gallery
navigation symbol References

  Egungun Masquerade

Egúngún Masquerade costume, Nigeria, late 20th century  WA508366
Egúngún Masquerade costume, Nigeria, late 20th century WA508366

Egúngún, which can be translated as 'powers concealed' is an annual or biennial masquerade festival held by Yoruba-speaking people in Nigeria. It takes the form of masked and costumed performers moving among the crowd, through the streets.

An Egúngún masker represents, honours and invokes an ancestor. Concealed by his layered cloth costume, the performer energetically spins the ancestor into being through freeform dance.

- Egúngún in Brighton Museum's collection
- About Egúngún performance
- The costume mask
- Remembering an Egúngún
- Egúngún as a theme in Performance Gallery
- References




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