Explanation:
In the novel “Things Fall Apart” by Chinua Achebe, an egwugwu is a masked ancestral spirit that serves as the physical representation of the village’s ancestors, laws, and customs. The egwugwu are held in high esteem and are considered sacred by the villagers of Umuofia. The masks are created by skilled craftsmen and are used in important village ceremonies, such as the annual yam festival or funeral rites. When Enoch, a zealous convert to the Christian religion, unmasks one of the egwugwu during a ceremony, the villagers become horrified. This action is considered a great insult to the ancestors and the entire village.