egbere
2024
egbere – the mysterious spirit of the enchanted mat
the story
Ancient African artistic choices were mostly unconventional which were intentional expressions of their culture and beliefs. This artwork offers a glimpse of what one of those inspirations may have been — a mystical creature from ancient myths known as Egbere.
egbere
egbere is a well-known mystical creature in Yoruba folklore, often described as a small, humanoid being that carries a mat. According to legend, anyone who can take and keep this mat from Egbere will gain immense wealth and fortune. However, this task is not for the faint-hearted, as Egbere is believed to be a restless spirit that wails continuously, haunting those who encounter it.
The creature is said to reside in secluded forests, riverbanks, or mystical crossroads places where the spiritual and physical worlds blur. Some versions of the legend describe Egbere as having a disheveled appearance, with an eerie aura that evokes both pity and fear. While some believe it to be a benevolent spirit seeking peace, others see it as a trickster, leading the greedy into endless misfortune.
forest
This artwork, with its vibrant but slightly surreal depiction of nature, could represent such an enchanted place—an environment where Egbere might dwell, waiting for the next traveler brave (or foolish) enough to seek its fabled mat.
exploration
team
director
olatoye emmanuel
concept art
akinte ponmile
modeling + lookdev
olatoye emmanuel ● elizabeth john
rigging
bosun ojomo
animation
onyeme micheal
simulation + fx
boluwatife abatan ● olatoye emmanuel
lighting
martins imokhai
tooling
aderemi adesada ● fausan hassan
sound design
saye bawa
