Egungun Headdress, Yoruba Tribe, Nigeria

Wood carved headdress mounted on a wicker basket. Bust painted white with black accent of hair and scarification. This architectural headpiece is part of the costume worn by Egungun performers. The Egungun is one of the most important Yoruba festivals and is dedicated to ancestor worship. Together with multi-layered costumes, masks and headpieces, the human form of the performer is obliterated. When the mask was paraded the, ancestor it depicts came to life again.

Acquired from the estate of Jacques Gansler

Dimensions: Height 9 inches, Width 10 inches (approx)