Egungun is the Yoruba masquerade or masked, costumed figure connected with ancestor reverence.They represent the spirits of ancestors who have long gone. Hence they are referred to as “Ara Orun”, those who dwell in the heavens. These Ara Orun are believed to be in constant watch over their descendants on Earth.
Egungun are seen at appointed periods called “Odun Egungun” (Egungun Festivals) and on special occassions for special purposes. In calamitous situations the Egungun may be invoked to appease the gods for reprieve.
The Egungun festival depicts the holistic nature of the totality of visual arts, crafts, and the performing arts as well as an embodiment of the philosophy of the people in their communal essence.
There are different types of Egungun; Eegun Alare, Eegun Ogun and Eegun Agbo-ile.
Eegun Alare is meant for entertainment. They thrill their audiences with colour, dance and acrobatics. The Eegun Ogun has great powers and are used during wars, while the Eegun Agbo-ile belongs to a compound. It is maintaned by the family or families who own it.
They all elicit fear and admiration.
The Egungun ensemble is accompanied by one or more drummers and a compere who directs the movement of masked one. The drummers and the compere sing praises of the progenitors of the masquerade. Their renditions egg the masquerade on to keep trying to exceed the records and feats of his predecessors.
The drum keeps up the frenzy saying “Oo le se bii baba re”, meaning “You have not even matched the feats of your forebears”.
This at times pushes the man in the mask to go beyond limits and outdo himself. He assumes such a level of invincibility that he soon gets into trouble.
But as soon as there is trouble, the first person to disappear is the Drummer. The compere or conductor tarries a bit with the masquerade but when things go really awry he vamooses too.
The masked one is left to face the music on his own. His survival now depends on how much power and tact he actually has and not what the praise singers sang to his ears.
Its not Odun Eegun yet. So my real concern is not the Ara Orun. I am thinking of the Ara Aye who is in the same shoes as the Ara Orun.
The man or woman in position of authority is surrounded by people akin to the drummer and the compere. They praise him to high heavens such that, like the Egungun, he gets carried away and whip the wrong person, destroy things that should have been left sacred and do unnecessary and overreaching dangerous stunts.
The C.E.O., the Oga at the top, Your Excellencies, employer, community leader, religious leader and; anybody in position of power and authority
Listen not to the drummers and praise singers, because when the chips are down you will be on your own. Use your head and your own ears.
When they sing “Oo le se bii Baba re” , pause and ponder. Egungun be careful!
Femi Ladapo writes from Ibadan, Oyo state
