Cultural Functions of Egungun Masquerade Performances in Yoruba-Speaking Communities of Kwara State

Egungun masquerade represents one of the most complex and multifunctional ritual performance traditions in Yoruba cultural life, combining ancestral veneration, social regulation, entertainment, and community cohesion functions. This study investigates the cultural functions of Egungun masquerade performances in selected Yoruba-speaking communities in Kwara State, North Central Nigeria. Using an ethnographic research design, data were collected through participant observation at Egungun festivals and ceremonies in Offa, Ilorin South, and Oyun local government areas, supplemented by in-depth interviews with masquerade custodians, community leaders, and cultural practitioners. The study applies performance theory and cultural function theory to analyse the social roles fulfilled by Egungun in contemporary community life. Reviewed literature on Yoruba masquerade has focused primarily on Ogun and Oyo State contexts, with the specific adaptations of Egungun tradition in North Central communities being insufficiently documented. This study addresses that regional gap. The research investigates how Egungun performances in Kwara have adapted to a context of significant Muslim majority populations and whether Islamic influences have modified or restricted traditional Egungun practice. The study further examines whether the ancestral communication function remains central or whether entertainment and social regulation have become the dominant functions. Findings are expected to reveal resilient cultural adaptation in communities where Egungun and Islamic practice coexist. Recommendations will address cultural heritage policy for Yoruba masquerade traditions in North Central Nigeria. Keywords: Egungun masquerade, Yoruba culture, Kwara State, cultural functions, performance tradition.