Egungun Mask (Primary Title)

Unknown (Artist)

Educational
20th century
Yoruba
cloth, wood, metal
Africa,Nigeria, Oyo / Ogbomoso region
Overall: 63 × 43 in. (160.02 × 109.22 cm)
92.133
Like most African masks, this Egúngún garment—worn over the head—conceals the wearer’s identity to reveal instead the presence of a spirit or being that is otherwise unseen. Egúngún masks make dramatic appearances in a spectacle of sound and movement, so it is impossible to experience their full effect in a gallery setting. To see a mask like this one in action, watch “Experience Africa” in the African Gallery Video Theater.
Gift of Dr. and Mrs. Jeffrey Hammer
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC

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