Egungun in Yoruba culture represents a life form of connection between the living and their ancestors who have passed. It presents a presence that assures the living that they are watched, blessed and protected by their ancestors even though they are no longer physically with the living, most especially the relatives of the Egungun. Orun is interpreted to meaning the spirit world, some others call heaven, where our ancestors and all Orisa’s are believed to reside and act as intermediaries to Olodumare. Ara Orun, translates to residents or inhabitants of the spirit world.
Egun in Yoruba language means bones. Egungun means ‘the energy/essence of the bones have mounted. ‘Mounted’ connotes taking possession into the attire created specifically for the purpose of the ancestor to visit, speak, to celebrate and to receive messages and blessings through Egungun from Orun.
An Egungun outing, mounting, or visitation is a celebration and representation of the ancestors from ‘Orun’ in splendid vibrant and colourful attires that creatively depicts the family’s social status, their professions, their Orisa affiliation and much more is artistically woven on the clothing worn by the medium. Each Egungun attire is a story told and shown using colours, motifs, wordings, objects, sculptures, fabrics, and designs that are visible on each piece of Egungun clothing.
Egungun also represents the continuation of Ori’s journey from Orun (spirit world) to Aiye (human world) in repeated life cycles known as reincarnation. Every Yoruba family that embraces and practices Yoruba indigenous culture will have at least one Egungun in the household as representative of their collective ancestors and lineage.
Egungun’s significance in Yoruba culture is incomplete without acknowledging the role and significance of Obatala, the Orisa of creation and creativity who moulded Ori’s that Olodumare breathed life into. Without Obatala, there isn’t Ori, without Ori there isn’t Egungun, without Egungun there isn’t ancestry or lineage, without ancestry, there is no source and no identity.
Odun Obatala
Obatala festival is (held annually in January, Ife in Osun State of Nigeria), in honour of the Orisa of creation, creativity, wisdom, peace, patience and prosperity. Obatala is believed to be the oldest Orisa in the pantheon of Orisa’s and is represented in pure white colour clothing, surrounding, and in all things white from which all things were created.
T’ile, t’oko, t’ebi, t’ara,
E ku Odun Obatala, Orisanla, Alabalase Orisa, Obatarisa, Oseremago.
Eepa Orisa, Orisa Eepa o.
Yoruba Gallery’s first edition of Egungun Arts Exhibition 2024 is dedicated to
Adele-Oba Adebimpe
Onilogbo of Ilogbo
Ogun State, Nigeria