Ireme

In Abakuá, the Ireme (also called Ñáñigo) is a masked dancer and spiritual figure who represents ancestral spirits and acts as an enforcer of justice, protector of the society’s secrets, and purifier during rituals and initiations.

Clothed in a tight, full-body costume with a cloth hood and a whisk or stick, the Ireme performs sacred dances that are central to Abakuá ceremonies, embodying both mystery and authority.