Egungun Costume, about 1930-60
Cloth, wood, and buttons
H. approx. 60 in. (152.4 cm)
Purchased with funds provided through a bequest from Lucile E. Moorman, 97.5.3

In traditional communities the Yoruba people honor their ancestors during the annual or biennial Egungun ceremony. The tailor who fashioned this Egungun costume used multiple layers of cloth with varied colors, patterns, and textures. The number of layers probably reflects the age of the costume: each year the family that owned it added new layers of valuable cloth to honor their ancestor. The earliest fabrics in this costume are French cotton voiles from the 1930s, while the outer layers consist of fabrics produced in the 1950s. The masquerader could see through the hand-knotted net face panel. When performing he would spin rapidly so that the fabric panels flew out in a spectacular display of color and pattern.

Click here for the back view.