Life in the coastal communities of Ijebu, Nigeria is heavily influenced by water, and is thus home to a series of masquerades that promote fertility and celebrate the role of water spirits. Headdresses such as this one, worn horizontally, form one part of these masquerade ensembles, and use an array of Yoruba images to refer to the world of humans and that of the “water people.” The bird on top likely represents the fishing eagle, which communicates messages from the water people to humans. The python is regarded as the progenitor of the other water spirits. Symbols of the Western world are also emphasized, notably the house, the swords functioning as ears, and the clock attached to the sides.