Africa

Agbogho Mmuo, or Maiden Spirit masquerades are performed annually during the dry season in the Nri-Awka area of northern Igboland, Nigeria. Brightly colored costumes are made and danced by mature men in their late 20's through 50's. They dance as adolescent girls, miming and exaggerating their beauty and comportment. The designs on the full body costumes are made from different colored appliqued cloth representing the patterns of body paintings called uli.