Things Fall Apart: Egwugwu Mask

The Egwugwu were a significant part of not only Umuofia, but the Ibo culture as a whole. They represented the eldritch ancestors of Umuofia. They were similar to the justice system of today. The Egwugwu were seen as wise and ultimately the roughly respectable members of the clan.They would review a solecism of the people and agree on a ruling they felt was just. For example, Achebe writes about the Egwugwu judging the case of Uzowulu and his constantly abused wife from page 88 to 94. Even though there were some people who did not agree with the decisions of the Egwugwu, they never dared to chatter out against them.Achebe tells the reader the origin of the Egwugwu when writing the tickers of the ancestorsemerged from the earth. The Egwugwu house approach the forest, away from the crowd, who saw only its back with the valet de chambrey-colored patterns and drawings done by specially chosen women on page 88. This explains the reader the secrecy and importance of the Egwugwu. They were so sacred that the house they came from couldnt even face the rest of Umuofia.For my project, I created a inter similar to the one Achebe describes on page 90. This spirit is portrayed to have a springy walk. He looked terrible with the smoked raffia body, a huge wooden face painted white except for the cycles/second hollow eyes and the charred teeth that were as big as mans fingers. ( Achebe 90).I have added clay shaped as teeth to my mask to represent the charred teeth (Achebe 90). Additionally, I was unable to find horns as Achebe too tells us the spirit has, so I have added feathers instead. This mask would be used anytime the Egwugwu is out in public. The spirits are unable to channel theses masks because doing so would be murder (Achebe 186). Also, I have added scorings to the mask to fate the detailed markings carved into actual tribal masks.