Yoruba Four Headed Egungun Headdress

This wooden headdress was created by the Yoruba people of western Nigeria, and was worn during a masquerade known as egungun. A widespread Yoruba ritual, egungun performances honor a community's ancestors during funerals and annual gatherings. Dressed to embody those ancestors, egungun masqueraders confront the questionable behaviors of community members and reinforce the moral standards of previous generations. This captivating headdress depicts four faces, representing the omnipresent protective forces of the one's ancestry. Colored by vibrant blue pigment, this egungun headdress has a balanced symmetry and fantastic sculptural presence.