Child’s Egungun Costume (“Omolere”)

Many expert masqueraders gain formative experiences by participating in performances as children. Although child-sized, this example bears all the principal elements of an adult’s "egungun" costume. Multi-layered cloth panels from local and foreign sources in richly varied prints, colors, and textures descend from an overhead plank. Each piece is trimmed with a wavy red border. A veil and leggings concealed the full face and body. The masquerader danced in fast, swirling motions that lifted the layers in a bright whirl of fabric. "Egungun," translated as “powers concealed,” honors the invisible presence and influence of ancestors among the living.