THE Ekiti people of the Yoruba in Southern Nigeria honour their leaders, warriors, farmers, kings, hunters, mothers of twins through the Epa masquerade.
It is used to honour people/ancestors who, at one time, performed those roles in the time past. The mask is very massive with a pot-like helmet and a super structure on it. Usually carved from a single soft and wooded trunk of a tree called e’ruku tree when not in use are kept in shrines where they are focused of prayers and offerings from community elders.
Features of Epa mask
- Carved from single trunk of tree.
- It is divided into two parts – pot-like helmet and super-structure.
- There are always toe faces on the helmet; one shows a face with open eye which is always watching the living, and the other face shows closed/sealed eyes contemplating the realm of the divine and the ancestors.
- The bearer sees through the opening of the mouth.
- Epamask have elaborate super structures.
- The superstructure usually has an equestrian figure at its centre.
- It has figures representing traders, hunters, musicians, mother of twins etc. surrounding the figures.
- An EPA mask can weigh up to 80 pounds and can be as tall as six feet.
- Some shows the figure at the centre with crested hat.
- It shows elaborate hair styles, facial mask, adornment signifying the social status and lineage of the person memorialised.
- Mrs Aharanwa is Assistant Director/Head of Department, Education Unit, National Museum, Lagos.
Leave a Reply