Egwugwu

The Egwugwu
//by Tammy Huynh//

//**What are the Egwugwu?**//

//Here is a mask worn by the Egwugwu.//
 * The Egwugwu are the village men who disguise and dress up in mask as their ancestral spirits.
 * The men were usually the leaders or elders of a clan.
 * They emerge from a secret house.
 * Women are not allowed to enter this secret house.

//**What do the Egwugwu do?**//

//Here is a photo of the Egwugwu men preforming a ceremony in the village.//
 * The Egwugwu serve as a judicial system in their village. Very similar to a jury.
 * They appear during ceremonies and perform the functions of a judicial court.
 * They preside over cases among the people of the village.
 * They speak on behalf of the spirits and their ancestors.
 * They provide spirtual knowledge to the village
 * They appear at funerals of honored men

//**Effects on the Village**//
 * People, particularly women and children, are scarred of these figures.
 * People suspect a human presence from the Egwugwu and suspect that they are their own men in their village.
 * They know they're not really spirits
 * People know that the Egwugwu are just men however, often these people are excited by this experience.

//Sources:// //[]// //[]// //[]// //[|http://lessons.ctaponline.org/~stanekr/]// //[] // //[] // //[|http://www.aug.edu/~artpxh/Class%20files/HUMN2002/IgboArt/IgboArt9.html] //

   The Egwugwu  By: Ellen Claire Benbow  What are they? They were leaders of the clan who wear masks during certain rituals and spoke on behalf of the spirits. <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">The Egwugwu were man who dressed during festivals and ceremonies as the spirits or ancestors of the clan. <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">The Egwugwu could also act as a jury to settle disputes within the village. <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">The acted as the bridge between the people of the village and their ancestors. <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">What did they do? <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-pagination: none; text-autospace: none;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">They kept peace within the village. In costume before performance. <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">They spoke to the ancestors and pleased the ancestors. <span style="line-height: 25.0pt; margin-left: .5in; mso-layout-grid-align: none; mso-list: l1 level1 lfo2; mso-pagination: none; mso-text-indent-alt: -.5in; tab-stops: 11.0pt .5in; text-autospace: none; text-indent: -.5in;"><span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">They acted as a bridge between the people and the ancestors. <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">Effects on the Village <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">They know it isn’t real, but it is still scary and thrilling. <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">It gives them a sense of belonging.. <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">It helps village unity <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">Man during performance <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">Typical mask <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;"> <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Calibri,sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"> <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">Group of man before performance <span style="-webkit-background-clip: initial; -webkit-background-origin: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-color: purple; background-image: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial; color: #ffcc00; font-family: 'Abadi MT Condensed Light'; font-size: 14pt;">

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