Dance crest "egungun" ·  Nigéria, Yoruba · ID: 3036805

Description

wood, encrusted blackish brown patina, nails, bearded head “eshus” on a massive base, a further face and three animal heads (bushbuck) produced separately and nailed to it later with four scoop-like items inbetween, slightly dam., minor missing parts, traces of insect caused damage (above all on the underside), cracks (left side of the head);
the depiction of the bushbuck is a direct reference to the “oro” society, which carries out sentences pronounced by the “ogboni”. “Oro” mainly represents the male ancestors. The blending of “egungun” and “oro” features can be found with many masks in the Abeokuta area.

Littérature comparée

Witte, Hans, A Closer Look, Berg en Dal 2004, p. 73