The Egungun association honors spirits of the ancestors and invokes
their protection or aid. These elaborate, colorful costumes combine traditional
strip-woven Ashoke cloth with other varied textiles, including some that
are printed or machine made velvet or lace. When performed the dancer climbs
into the open top end until his feet fill the slipper-like form at the bottom.
As he looks out through the rectangular mesh opening near the center, the
top of the costume would fall down in back. The underside (when worn) of
of the costume is made of Ashoke cloth that usually matches the Ashoke on
the front.
For exhibition the costumes can be pinned to a wall, as here, or draped over a bar.
TRIBE |
OBJECT |