Eyo (pronounced Ay-yoh)The Stilt Walker is a Caribbean and West African inspired artist and performer presenting traditional lore and dance styles from different regions of the Caribbean and Africa. Eyo is dedicated to the preservation and continuance of traditional African folk arts and culture. 

The Yoruba word "Eyo" refers to the masked dancers, known as the masquerades, that come out during festivals. The masquerade on stilts or Tall Spirit are known as the Nyon Kwouya (pronounced Nye-on Coya), the Chakaba (pronounced shah-kah-bah), the Glegbe (pronounced gleg-bay),  the Moko Jumbie (pronounced moko-juhm-bee) and the Agere (pronounced ah-gey-rey). These names are all apart of the African Folklore that follow the tradition of 'The Mask Dance Ritual' from the triple border region of West Africa consisting of Guinea, Liberia and the Ivory coast. This family of masquerades acts as the spiritual authority of the village and community and along with the music accompaniment comes to bring good luck, peace, prosperity and balance in all of nature.

Within the masquerade of the Tall Spirit, you will see various aspects of nature and of man and woman. Traditionally the pants of the mask represent the male within society and the skirt represents the female. The skirt is made of raffia or straw which is found throughout the countryside of various countries in Africa. 

Eyo performs traditional and acrobatic ballet style of stilt walking from the African countries such as Guinea, Liberia, Senegal, Ivory Coast, Nigeria and is also apart of the the Nanfoule Folklore Society and the Poro Bush Society from Liberia. As a part of the society rules the identity of the stilt walker is to remain anonymous, as the stilt walker represents the spirit of the ancestors.