Artwork: Egungun dress.
Artist: The Yoruba people of West Africa.
About the Work: The incredible costumes you see before you are the work of the Yoruba people, who gather annually in Benin, Western Africa to practice their Voodoo faith.
They are called Egungun, and are designed to mesmerise as part of a dance choreographed to honour the spirits of those who have come before.
Those who wear the most illustrious, detailed clothes are considered the most powerful and prestigious of the thousands of faithful who live in West Africa. They predominantly come from Nigeria, where 20% of the population is Yoruba.
These garbs are made from a range of materials, with the undermost layer made of Aso-Oke, similar to the fabric used to wrap the dead. The Yoruba believe that the design of the dress is chosen by their ancestors, who channel the image via divination.
Whatever the case may be, the results are utterly spectacular.
