Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2008 - 46

Agbede Adebisi
Brass Egungun Masks
Another mask maker, Agbede Adebisi, specializes in the creation of masks rather than in masked performance. Agbede's
brass Egungun masks are renowned throughout the region. His
grandfather's masks have found their way into major European
collections.
Like many mask makers worldwide, Agbede learned his
craft from his father, beginning at the age of twelve. He creates his brass sculptures utilizing the traditional "lost wax"
process with nineteenth century bellows and kilns. Special red
clay from Benin called amo pupe takes three days to harden
as a negative image covering the positive beeswax image of the
mask underneath. After the clay dries, it is placed over a very
hot ﬁre sustained with charcoal. The wax melts and he pours
the melted brass inside the clay mold. When it cools, Agbede
breaks the clay to retrieve the brass form. It can take as long as
three weeks to create an Egungun mask using brass features.
His family usually helps to build the accompanying costume
created out of strips of cloth worn by the deceased and his ancestors or other deceased family members.
Agbede's masks are in high demand. "Occasionally," he
laments, "they are stolen to sell to Europeans or other foreigners," though the need to make replacements keeps him active

and ﬁnancially solvent. (I was surprised to learn that Egungun
masks actually could be stolen, in spite of Tunji's belief that
Egungun masks served as protection for all other valuables
nearby.)
His own family Egungun mask incorporates strips of his
late father's wearing apparel as well as metallic cloth previously
worn by his late mother. In accordance with tradition, his Egungun mask is reverently stored in the attic of his home or resides
in the highest place within the highest room in his home. His
greatest challenge comes when attempting to acquire appropriate materials. The brass is very expensive and sometimes he
must compromise by mixing lead with it. Only the clay from
Benin works best to create the molds (Adebisi 2006).

Kolawale Adeola
Masks for Epa Masquerade
The gregarious and quick-witted Kolawole Adeola, who calls
himself Kola, specializes in Epa masks for the Yam festivals, Owi
masks that appear at night during funerals, and Gèlèdé masks
honoring women in Gèlèdé celebrations, as well as Egungun
masks. He belongs to the Ògbóni Secret Society, which pays
special homage to Obegi, the spirits representing twins, who
are believed to have the power to create good fortune and
health. Often the masks for this secret society are metal and
not necessarily worn on the head. They can serve as a heraldic
device, carried or worn in front of the torso. Participants can
bang on them (like a gong). Masks used by this secret society
feature arms folded across the chest with ﬁsts aligned.
The Obegi twin ﬁgures frequently adorn the Epa masks for
use during masquerades at the Yam festivals. The Epa masks
help to promote the male/female òrìsà spirit for agriculture,
ensuring a good harvest and commercial success. The masks
often combine male/female components, such as a high mask
of a woman with a male face, and they are frequently worn over

Agbedi Adebisi in his studio.

Agbedi Adebisi wearing his family's Egungun
mask and costume.

W I N T E R

2008

THEATRE

DESIGN

TECHNOLOGY

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Theatre Design & Technology - Winter 2008