Socio-Cultural Symbolisms of Egúngún Costumes Across Six Yoruba Towns: Fostering Contemporary Kindred-Ship from Ancestral Artistic Memories

Abstract

Egúngún as a Yorùbá masquerade performs across the geopolitical spaces of Yorùbáland. Historically, Egúngún fostered social development in aspects of unity, morality, security and socio-cultural prosperity. The present-day ethical disregard for the social impact of Egúngún and other such cultural legacies are regrettable in society. There is therefore a need to re-enact ancestral memories for contemporary social development. The aesthetics of Egúngún costumes in six Yorùbá towns of Osun State, Nigeria, is the focus of this paper. Masquerade paraphernalia were examined for similarities in iconography, symbolism and social order. The six towns are: Imesi-Ilé, Ile-Ifẹ̀, Ejigbo, Ede, Osogbo and Ila- Orangun. These towns were selected because they have contemporary active Egúngún practices. The range of masquerades examined included Ládùnùnwo, Ìyẹkíìyẹ, and Gbàdó of Imesi-Ilé; Lobanikan and Gbandu of Ile-Ifẹ̀; Adinimodo and Owolewa of Ejigbo; Gbájẹ̀ẹ́rò and Òndòrù of Ede; Òpélè-Ìbà and Kúndúké of Osogbo, and Ẹlẹwẹ of Ila-Orangun. The research methodology used was qualitative using field investigation comprising of participant observation, interviews with relevant custodians of the Egúngún traditions, photographic and video recordings, and literature reviews.  The comparative analysis of the data was carried out with the theoretical framework of Formalism and Social Realism. Findings reveal that the Egúngún in these communities share structural similarities in layered robes with concealed amulets, colours, headdresses and masking forms, lappets and other forms of ornamentation. These signify shared ancestral migration, communality and exchange. In conclusion, such kindred-ship is a necessary panacea for contemporary social reform. Egúngún in the six towns exhumes positive ancestral memories, creating a continuity needed for development.