Colour Signification as Cultural Element in Ẹpa Masquerade of Ekiti People

The fear of extinction of folk culture has always been expressed by people who are committed to socio cultural beliefs and practices of their communities. Many scholars seek ways to revamp Yorùbá eroding cultural practices. However, assessing the role colours play in translation ideas into simple expressions and depiction which could be easily understood any non-Yoruba people is a feat yet to be fully achieved. This study therefore explores the significance of colours in Yoruba ritual performance such as Epa-type masquerade festival of Ekiti people with special focus on the masquerade headdresses examining their cultural symbolic and aesthetic meanings. To achieve this; the paper engaged multiple research technique with structured and unstructured interviews, and note taking research method in three research communities of Ikóro, Ìloro and Ayégunle Ekiti. 10 informants from each town and two non-natives were used for analysis. The study is hinged on Semiotic theory propounded by De Saussure (1983) as theoretical framework to drive home salient point, since it is about the use of colour as signs and code in expression of mood and emotions. Finding of the study revealed that Yoruba principal colours funfun (white), dúdú (black) and pupa (red) are cultural and their significance are mainly associated with symbolic expressions and meaning `which is gradually being eroded.