“Important in its emphasis on the history of an art form and its specific cultural context; of interest to academic audiences as well as general readers.”
 — Henry Drewal, editor of Sacred Waters

“John Thabiti Willis cites oral traditions, archival sources, and publications to draw attention to the link between economic development and spectacular and historically influential masquerade performances.”
 — Babatunde Lawal, author of The Gelede Spectacle

“[This] book as a whole stands as a major achievement not only in Yoruba history and historical anthropology, but in recent historiographic trends using ritual institutions and performances as primary historical sources. It will have a major impact in Yoruba studies, and in the study of West African history more generally. Willis should be commended for penetrating a complex and socially guarded ritual resource to glean the hidden histories manifested therein.”
 — African Studies Review