Culture & Identity: Egungun Masquerade

Egungun festival is widely marked by adherents of YORUBA traditional religion.

The worshippers believe that their ancestors who died several years ago reincarnate, pay them regular visits to bless them. Whenever the ‘ancestors’ come, they appear in colourful pieces of clothes sewn together and speak in guttural voices to give the impression that they are not ordinary beings. They bless their believers and followers. Egungun as they are always called do bring blessings to people both men and women who are childless, sterile, barren, sick or possessed of demons are prayed for by the visiting ancestors (Egungun).