Gelede Mask
The Yoruba Gelede mask is very similar in make to that of their Egungun mask.[1] It is made with brightly color cloth, and a wooden mask.[1] The one difference though is this mask also includes leg rattles, which is shown in the video below.[1] The Yoruba people carved these masks from one piece of light weight wood with machetes and big adzes. [2] They would also carve scarification on the faces and would sometimes carve in suggestive hair styles or have them wearing a hat.[1] The suggestion of a braided hairstyle means a spiritual person or priest is to wear this mask.[1] Other times crosses will show up on the hats of some of these masks which are a representation of the cross roads and Esu.[1]
The Gelede masquerades are done for entertainment, and to honor women such as “our mothers.”[1] This mask is meant to use their spiritual powers to ensure the happiness within the community.[2] It also pushes people to not partake in any anti-social activities during the time the Gelede is out. Overall, the performance and reason for this mask is to pay respects to the women within the community especially those of older stances.
1. Frank Herreman, Facing the Mask, (Munich: THe Museum of African Art and Prestel , 1996), 24-32,36.
2. Babatunde Lawal, The Gelede Spectacle, (Seattle, London: University of Washington Press, 1996), ch. 4 & 5
The Gelede masquerades are done for entertainment, and to honor women such as “our mothers.”[1] This mask is meant to use their spiritual powers to ensure the happiness within the community.[2] It also pushes people to not partake in any anti-social activities during the time the Gelede is out. Overall, the performance and reason for this mask is to pay respects to the women within the community especially those of older stances.
1. Frank Herreman, Facing the Mask, (Munich: THe Museum of African Art and Prestel , 1996), 24-32,36.
2. Babatunde Lawal, The Gelede Spectacle, (Seattle, London: University of Washington Press, 1996), ch. 4 & 5