Mask "egungun" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3040494

Description

wood, black patina, kaolin, of unique expressive form with baloon-like inflated cheeks and a sharp-edged nose with hanging tip, slightly dam., small missing part backside at the rim, abrasion of paint, traces of usage, base;
“egungun” masks appear at festivals or in times of calamity to cleanse the town of wrongdoing and misfortune on behalf of the ancestors. The most important masks are those symbolizing the ancestors that founded the community and watch over its welfare. Other kinds of “egungun” masks commemorate the ancestors of a particular family or are more associated with the entertainment that accompanies the ceremonies. Present mask belongs to the last category. Masqueraders of this type usually satirize various human characters, such as prostitute, drunkard, or diseased foreigner.