Urhobo Historical Society

 

An Urhobo Festival Assemblage:
ERAVWE OGANGA [HUGE BEAST] OF 
OHWORU FESTIVAL OF EVWRENI PEOPLE

Photographed By Perkins Foss and Susan Moore
September 1972



Eravwe Oganga [Huge Beast] of Ohworu Festival of Evwreni, An Urhobo People

The "Huge Beast" (eravwe gangan), is the largest and most elaborate masquerade piece that appears on the second and final day (Ohworhu-Ode) of the Ohworu festival at Evwreni. Photographed by Perkins Foss and Susan Moore in September 1972, this creature is danced by three people, two inside and one holding the tail. It represents the animal forces that are part of the water spirit Ohworhu. This masquerade tradition, common to many southern Urhobo and Isoko village groups, is believed to have been brought north by itinerant Urhobo fishermen from Izon (Ijo) fishing camps perhaps 300 years ago. 



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