The Egúngún ancestral masquerade is a spiritual and cultural tradition of the Yoruba people, manifesting the collective spirits of departed ancestors who periodically return to the human community. Performances involve elaborately costumed and masked figures who embody the spirits of ancestors, known as Ará Ọ̀run (the collective dead).

During the annual Ọdun Egúngún festivals, and at family rituals, these figures appear through dynamic performances of dance, drumming, and chanting. Their purpose is to bless, warn, and spiritually cleanse the community, while also strengthening the bonds that unite families and society.

The Egúngún’s appearance is a spectacle of pomp and pageantry, driven by intense drumming and singing of òríkì (praise poems). Through dramatic mimes and actions, the masquerade critiques or praises the community’s behavior, encouraging ethical conduct.