Egungun
Encyclopedia
Egungun is a part of the Yoruba
pantheon of divinities. In the indeginous religious system of the West Africa
n tribe of that name, the spirit is of central importance. It is the eventual end of all living beings, and as such is regarded as the ancestral "collective".
, the annual ceremonies in honour of the dead serve as a means of assuring their ancestors a place among the living. In return, it is seen as the responsibility of the said ancestors to compel the living to uphold the ethical standards of the past generations of their clan, town or family. The Egungun is celebrated in festivals, known as Odun Egungun, and in family ritual through the masquerade custom. In family situations, a family elder known either formally or informally as Alagba presides over ancestral rites and may or may not be initiated into the local Egungun society. On the other hand, in matters that deal with whole communities, Egungun priests and initiates that are trained in ancestral communication, ancestral elevation work and funerary rites are placed in charge of invoking and bringing out the ancestors. Elaborate costumes adorn the Egungun masqueraders, and through drumming and dance, these robed performers are believed to become possessed of the spirits of the ancestors as maifested as a single entity. The Egungun then spiritually clean the community and through exaggerated acting and miming, demonstrate both ethical and amoral behavior that occurred since their last visit, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of the community with the hope of encouraging behavior more befitting of their descendants. Once this is done, messages, warnings and blessings are doled out by them to the assembled spectators.
Important Egungun include the Oloolu and Alapansanpa, both of Ibadanland. Elewe of the Ìgbómìnà
Yoruba clan
, which is common in the towns of Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún
, Ìlá Òràngún, and Arandun, is also of particular prominence.
In Brazil
, the main cult of the Egungun is found on the Island of Itaparica
, in the State of Bahia
, though houses of worship dedicated to the spirit exist in other states.
, Oyo
, Oyo State, Nigeria
, this being video footage that was filmed in August, 1999: Egungun Energized to Dance
– Egun/Egungun
Yoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
pantheon of divinities. In the indeginous religious system of the West Africa
West Africa
West Africa or Western Africa is the westernmost region of the African continent. Geopolitically, the UN definition of Western Africa includes the following 16 countries and an area of approximately 5 million square km:-Flags of West Africa:...
n tribe of that name, the spirit is of central importance. It is the eventual end of all living beings, and as such is regarded as the ancestral "collective".
Function
Amongst the YorubaYoruba people
The Yoruba people are one of the largest ethnic groups in West Africa. The majority of the Yoruba speak the Yoruba language...
, the annual ceremonies in honour of the dead serve as a means of assuring their ancestors a place among the living. In return, it is seen as the responsibility of the said ancestors to compel the living to uphold the ethical standards of the past generations of their clan, town or family. The Egungun is celebrated in festivals, known as Odun Egungun, and in family ritual through the masquerade custom. In family situations, a family elder known either formally or informally as Alagba presides over ancestral rites and may or may not be initiated into the local Egungun society. On the other hand, in matters that deal with whole communities, Egungun priests and initiates that are trained in ancestral communication, ancestral elevation work and funerary rites are placed in charge of invoking and bringing out the ancestors. Elaborate costumes adorn the Egungun masqueraders, and through drumming and dance, these robed performers are believed to become possessed of the spirits of the ancestors as maifested as a single entity. The Egungun then spiritually clean the community and through exaggerated acting and miming, demonstrate both ethical and amoral behavior that occurred since their last visit, exposing the strengths and weaknesses of the community with the hope of encouraging behavior more befitting of their descendants. Once this is done, messages, warnings and blessings are doled out by them to the assembled spectators.
Important Egungun include the Oloolu and Alapansanpa, both of Ibadanland. Elewe of the Ìgbómìnà
Igbomina
The Ìgbómìnà are a tribe of the Yoruba people occupying the north-central portion of the Yoruba region of southwestern Nigeria....
Yoruba clan
Clan
A clan is a group of people united by actual or perceived kinship and descent. Even if lineage details are unknown, clan members may be organized around a founding member or apical ancestor. The kinship-based bonds may be symbolical, whereby the clan shares a "stipulated" common ancestor that is a...
, which is common in the towns of Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún
Òkè-Ìlá
Òkè-Ìlá Òràngún is an ancient city in southwestern Nigeria that was capital of an ancient Igbomina-Yoruba city-state of the same name....
, Ìlá Òràngún, and Arandun, is also of particular prominence.
In Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
, the main cult of the Egungun is found on the Island of Itaparica
Itaparica
Itaparica is a Brazilian island in All Saint's Bay , about 10 km from the city of Salvador, Bahia. It is known for hosting the Sul America Open tennis competition. In the island, there are two cities: Itaparica and Vera Cruz....
, in the State of Bahia
Bahia
Bahia is one of the 26 states of Brazil, and is located in the northeastern part of the country on the Atlantic coast. It is the fourth most populous Brazilian state after São Paulo, Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro, and the fifth-largest in size...
, though houses of worship dedicated to the spirit exist in other states.
Film & Video
An Egungun masquerade performance at the palace of HRM The AlafinAlaafin
Alaafin or Man of the Palace in the Yoruba language was the title of the emperor of the medieval Oyo empire of northwestern Yorubaland. It was retained through the fall of that state as the official title of the ceremonial ruler of the contemporary Oyo clan....
, Oyo
Oyo, Nigeria
Oyo is a city in Oyo State, Nigeria, founded as the capital of the Oyo Kingdom in the 1830s and known to its people as 'New Oyo' to distinguish it from the former capital to the north, 'Old Oyo' ) which had been deserted as a result of rumors of war. Its inhabitants are mostly of the Yoruba people...
, Oyo State, Nigeria
Nigeria
Nigeria , officially the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is a federal constitutional republic comprising 36 states and its Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. The country is located in West Africa and shares land borders with the Republic of Benin in the west, Chad and Cameroon in the east, and Niger in...
, this being video footage that was filmed in August, 1999: Egungun Energized to Dance
External links
- Directions and Importance of Connecting with our Ancestors
- Egungun: The Masked Ancestors of the Yoruba
- Egungun Festival
- Egungun Mysteries Come to America
- Egun/Egungun cult
- http://www.sacred-texts.com/afr/yor/yor07.htm
- Alawoye.com Baba'Awo Ifaloju, showcasing Ifa using web media 2.0 (blogs, podcasting, video & photocasting)
- Iwi Egungun Oludare Olajubu
- West African Orisa Tradition of Nigeria
– Egun/Egungun
Portuguese
- http://www.ejiodi.wetpaint.com
- http://www.fakayodefayemifatunde.wetpaint.com