synopsis
How to Interpret the Masquerade merges personal and found footage to explore the intersection of cultural heritage, colonial history, and spiritual practices within the Yoruba tradition. The film intertwines a series of clips, some created by Iyunade and others sourced from documentaries, to reflect on the significance of masquerading in Yoruba culture.
The artist’s own reenactments of familial roles and a Gẹlẹdẹ performance—an important Yoruba ritual dance honoring a matriarchal deity—are central to the piece. Iyunade performs as a masquerade dancer in front of a constructed set, juxtaposed with archival footage from Benin, where the Gẹlẹdẹ ceremony originates, showing live performances of this ritual.
Interwoven with these scenes is footage from the Manchester Museum in the UK, where a Yoruba tribal leader reflects on the cultural significance of Gẹlẹdẹ masks, which were looted during British colonial rule and now reside in the museum. His insights about the shared masquerading traditions between the Yoruba people in Nigeria and Benin help restore cultural context to the masks, which have often been viewed as mere artifacts. The film ultimately deepens Iyunade’s photographic explorations, adding layers of historical and spiritual context to the masquerading practice, while commenting on the ongoing impact of colonialism on cultural identity.