What is an egwugwu?

Answer 1

Well, honey, an egwugwu is a masquerade of the ancestral spirits in the Igbo culture of Nigeria. These bad boys strut around in elaborate costumes during ceremonies and trials, embodying the wisdom and power of the ancestors. So, if you ever see one coming your way, show some respect and don't mess with the spirits!

Answer 2

An egwugwu is a masked spirit representing an ancestral deity in the Igbo culture of Nigeria. These spirits play a significant role in traditional Igbo religious and judicial practices, often serving as judges in dispute resolutions. The egwugwu wear elaborate masks and costumes to embody the spirits of the ancestors, and their identities are kept secret to maintain their authority and mystique within the community.

Answer 3

In the story, Things Fall Apart, by Chinua Achebe, egwugwu are the spirits of the ancestors of Nigerian tribes. Great men of these tribes wear masks that can have a rather terrifying look about them, which is exactly how it is supposed to make you feel.

The most disgraceful things you can do to an egwugwu would be to unmask it in public, which kills the spirit. When an egwugwu dies, the mother spirit cries a dreadful cry for the death of her son for a week.

The egwugwu were also summoned whenever the villagers needed to settle disputes in a court. The spirits of the ancestors were said to be the highest judges in the land.

Answer 4

Oh, dude, an egwugwu is like a masked spirit in Igbo culture in Nigeria. They wear these cool masks and costumes during ceremonies and stuff. It's like Halloween but with a cultural twist, you know?

Answer 5

Like any religion, they serve as symbols of the gods and their divine will.