SASO L'OJU EGUN / BEHIND THE MASK

My current research is focused on the cloth of the masquerades of the Egungun Festival in West Africa and parts of Bahia, Brazil. When I was on residency in Brazil my paper tapestry technique became influenced by the traditional fabric of the BAHIA people, who have a close connection to the Yoruba people of Nigeria through the slave trade. They both celebrate the Egungun Festival, a traditional religious ritual, where masqueraders dance in elaborate costumes.

My head spun with questions. What is the significance of the masquerade? What is the purpose in the culture of this festival? From where did those costumes and masks come? Who designed them with what influence? What preparation do the performers go through before the festival? Do the patterns used have any relationship to the tattoos and body art of today?

I was born in a family that practiced both ISLAM and CHRISTIANITY. Although my…