“To record the moment I was in, I married my gimbal to the phone at hand after unintentionally walking into the scene.”—Pelumi Folarin

Pelumi-Folarin takes us through the exciting world of the Egungun in this brief, unscripted documentary. He describes the experience that led to the creation of this project. “To record the moment I was in, I married my gimbal to the phone at hand after unintentionally walking into the scene.”

While the rest of the world may refer to a “Egungun” as any masquerade or masked, costumed figure, the term has multiple meanings. However, the masquerade is revered as the collective visitation of ancestors among the Yoruba, Igbo, and many individual African nations.

The dual ultimate goal of the masquerade festival are first, celebration of the ancestors, second, the blessing from these ancestors.

Either among the Yoruba who refer to the entity as Egungun or their cousin, the Igbos in the far east of Nigeria who call it Mmanwu, Africans, however, are by default imbued with a deeper sense of meaning for Masquerades, with maximum admiration for the ‘covered figure’, believed to be the spirit of the gone ancestors.

It is a tangible representation of the spirits of departed ancestors returning to the neighborhood to be remembered, celebrated, and bestowed with blessings.

The masquerade festival is an important cultural event in Africa, serving several purposes:

Cultural heritage: It showcases the rich cultural heritage and traditions of African communities.

Storytelling: By illustrating myths, stories, and legends, masquerades teach the next generation about cultural values and history.

Entertainment: The festival provides entertainment through music, dance, and drama.

Social cohesion: It brings communities together, fostering social bonding and unity.

Spiritual significance: Masquesarades are thought to be a means of communication between the spirit world and ancestors in some cultures.

Tourism: By drawing visitors, the festival fosters both economic growth and cultural tourism.

Identity: It aids in maintaining customs and cultural identity.Identity: It helps preserve cultural identity and traditional practices.

Therapy: The festival offers a platform for emotional expression and stress relief.