Mask-casque-yoruba-nigeria

Gelede mask - Yoruba - Nigeria - Gelede cultThe Gèlèdè society
"The Gèlèdè society is organized around the "mothers" and meets at night.The "mothers" are supposed to transform themselves into birds and be invited by the souls to examine any problems facing the community.
Iyalashè, the elderly woman who leads the assembly, is assisted by a man called Babalashè.She has important powers: she can intervene in other secret societies and influence the decisions of traditional authorities by denouncing the failings of men..." according to Rivallain's "Yorubas".
Gèlèdè masks
Gèlèdè masks among the Yoruba are built on the same principle: a face (of the mask-healm type) and a scene that develops on the top of the mask.These are used in masquerades dedicated to women in their maternal dimension.
In fact, it seems that for the Yoruba of Nigeria, women's power appears to be ambivalent, some could be witches!
Ase, which is the vital energy contained in every being, could become exceptional in certain women and would be capable of threatening social harmony.
Only the collective power of the ancestors would be able to master those whom the Yoruba call "our mothers".
The Gèlèdè masquerades therefore aim to restore this social harmony by "taming" the female part of society.They are preceded by great night ceremonies, the Efe, during which speech is free and which are, today, festivals where comedy and satire are played out.Courtesy of Détours des mondes.