Egungun masquerades are practiced throughout th Yoruba world, although the tradtion originated in the kingdom of Oyo. Accounts of early egungun performaces were recorded by European travelers in the early nineteenth century. An egungun festival is held once a year to honor those who have died in the clan; however, these festivals can be held more often, an for entertainment purposes as well. Masqueraders wear masks carved of wood or other media, or leather caps decorated with cloth or mesh netting to obscure their faces. The wearer's body is usually draped wiht lengths of cloth. Often a family will spend a great deal of money on expensive materials such as silk or damask in honor of a deceased loved one. Author John Pemberton writes, "Egungun are the creations and reflections of social relationships. They reflect the continuing relationships of the livng to the deceased, as well as the relationship of the living members of a family to one another. "

See also "Yoruba: Nine Centuries of African Art and Thought" by Henry Drewal and John Pemberton with Rowland Abiodun.