Egungun Ajómọ́gbódó: Documentary of African’s Power at its Peak

Written By Káyọ̀dé Adéṣọ̀kan

Evidently, African countries are endowed with rich culture and supernatural power, and among them is Nigeria, the giant of Africa, with the cultural heritage of its Yorùbá folks. From Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Nigeria, Israel Ayanwuyi documented the dance and performance of an (Egúngún) masquerade called Ajómọ́gbódó. Egúngún Ajómọ́gbódó with its space-sitting prowess is one of the most popular and well travelled Egúngún from Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́, Nigeria. It has the world’s attention because of its sitting on space/air prowess.

The name Ajókó-mọ́-gbé-odó (meaning the one who sits without need for stool) is said to have been given in the ancient time when all Egúngún in Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́ openly perform for the king, Ṣọ̀ún of Ògbómọ̀ṣọ́. After their performance, other Egúngún would sit on stool but this precise Egúngún choose to be different by sitting without a stool. Since then, the onlookers began to call it Ajókó-mọ́-gbé-odó and was later shortened to Ajómọ́gbódó.

According to the Yorùbá mythology, anyone under the Ẹ̀kú (Egúngún’s costume) is believed to be possessed by the spirit of his ancestors. It is believed that Ajómọ́gbódó sits comfortably on space as if there is a stool underneath, with support from the ancestors.

This documentary by Israel Ayanwuyi, the founder and the lead creator at AIF YORUBA CULTURAL CENTRE, is a display of Africa’s power at its peak. Hence, it has been screened at the International Folklore Film Festival, India; Afro-China Arts and Folklore Festival under International Festival Forum for Arts of the Gifted, Egypt; amongst others.

As the Yorùbá would say, ìrọ̀yìn kò tó àmójúbà; ẹni bá débẹ̀ lóle ròyìn.