Gelede Mask from Yoruba, Nigeria

Description

Masks are a window into the soul of a culture, and provide us with great conversation pieces for the home. African masks are possibly the most admired and well known art form of Africa. They are both idea and form. The artistry of African masks is self evident but, for the people who create them, they have a much deeper meaning than surface beauty. African Masks are believed to embody the spirit and symbolize a message of wisdom, prosperity, security, and power. Stylish elements in a mask’s looks are codified by the tradition and may either identify a specific community or convey specific meanings.

“‘Gelede’ – means to “soothe or treat with gentleness,” and is understood in relation to women. The purpose of the Gelede mask & ceremony performance is to acknowledge and celebrate the abilities and strengths of women – particularly mothers, who are seen as life givers. The objects used during the Gelede ceremony – especially the mask – aid the celebration of qualities such as calmness, patience and good judgement, which the Yorubas tend to associate with mothers. The Gelede headdress often consists of two parts, a lower mask and an upper superstructure. The lower mask depicts a woman’s face, its composure expressing the qualities of calmness, patience, and “”coolness”” desired in women. . The design of the superstructure is intended to placate the mothers by displaying their inner powers for all to see, thus pleasing them and ensuring the well-being of the community. One source states that birds signify the dangerous nocturnal powers of women who act as witches. Snakes symbolize the positive feminine qualities of patience and coolness as also the vigilance. Gelede artists demonstrate their artistry and mastery of the medium by developing complex imagery within the confines of the basic cylindrical mass of wood.
Another source states that masks with birds represent the “”messenger of the mothers”” while snakes represent “power.”