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By: Shittu barakat Adeyemi and Faleti Oluwabukola Adunni
Masquerades are a huge part of Yoruba tradition as it is passed down from one generation to another. They are known to appear during festivals, rituals, ceremonies and funerals. In Nigeria, some families are known to be masqueraders. They are believed to have spiritual powers and the mask and clothes shouldn’t be touched by ordinary person.
Egungun
Egungun, in the broadest sense is any Yoruba masquerade or masked, costumed figure. More specifically, it is a Yoruba masquerade for ancestor reverence, or the ancestors themselves as a collective force. Egungun” is sometimes translated as “bone” or “skeleton”, but when pronounced with the correct tone, it means “masqueraders.” It is as well known as masked ancestors of the Yoruba land.
Eyo
The word “Eyo” also refers to the costumed dancers known as the masquerades that come out during the festival. Back in the day, the Eyo festival was held to escort the soul of a departed Lagos King or Chief and to usher in a new king. The festival is also known as the AdamuOrisha Play and is presented by the people of Lagos as a tourist event. The “Eyo” who represents the spirits of the dead are dressed in white apparels with a hat as well as hold a traditional iconic staff known as “Opambata.”
Legend says the Eyo came as a result of the need to protect a deity in the land from hooligans who wanted to cart it away.
Agemo
Agemo is a masquerade festival celebrated among the Ijebu people. The festival and accompanying rituals are celebrated to honour the spirit deity Agemo, who is believed to be a protector of children and who safeguards Ijebu’s future through its blessing.
Alapansanpa Masquerade
The Alapansanpa, also known as EegunOgundeji, is one of the highly dreaded masquerades in Ibadan.
“Alapansanpa” masquerades are known for their visit to the Olubadan palace annually in the month of June, in and outside Ibadan, the Alapansanpa masquerade was used in the past to fight and win many wars. It is said that if Alapasanpadoesn’t go to theOlubadan’s Palace, there will be no peace and prosperity in the land and it also means that the Olubadan is an evil person.
Atipako Masquerade
Atipakois known as a ‘load-carrying’ masquerade that is usually accompanied by women. The ancestral rites are done by a community or family elder referred to as ‘Alaagba’.
Atipako masquerade always carries stones, mortar and pestle on his head which portrays its significance for blessing the masses and the land. It comes out annually in June and cleanses the community.
Reference: Oluwatomiwa Ogunniyi/Wikipedia
Edited by: Adebayo Nurudeen
Published by: Mondiu Sherifat