Gelede Headdress (Yoruba)
Gelede
Attribution rests on documented field collection or recorded observation of the object in use. No collection history is established for this object. Nothing here should be read as evidence of lawful acquisition or export.
About Gelede
Gelede is the Yoruba masquerade that honours the mothers, the elderly women whose spiritual power the community respects and must keep on its side. The Gelede headdress is worn on top of the head and tilted forward, while the dancer’s face is veiled in cloth.
Gelede performances combine dance, song and satire. They praise good conduct, mock bad behaviour and retell the stories the community lives by, which is why UNESCO recognises Gelede as a Masterpiece of the Oral and Intangible Heritage of Humanity. I write about Gelede as a teacher of community values in Chapter 6 of my book, free to read here.
From my book
I photographed this mask during my field work and it appears in my book Within Carved Lines: The Secret Meanings of African Masks. You can read five chapters of the book free here, or get the full book in paperback or hardcover on Amazon.
Record
| People / culture | Yoruba |
|---|---|
| Country | Benin, Nigeria |
| Region | Southwestern Nigeria and the Republic of Benin |
| Common name | Gelede |
| Form category | Headdress or crest worn atop the head |
| Subject depicted | Undetermined |
Ceremony and context
Gelede festival honouring the mothers
Provenance
| Collection | Field photograph by Michael Ukwuma |
|---|
Source
This record is a catalogue entry, not an appraisal, valuation or legal determination. Nothing here should be read as evidence that an object was lawfully acquired or exported.