Gelede headdress
20th century, 1950–2000
Object PlaceNigeria
Medium/TechniqueWood and paint
DimensionsOverall: 41 x 38 x 36 cm (16 1/8 x 14 15/16 x 14 3/16 in.)
Credit LineGift of Geneviève McMillan in memory of Reba Stewart
Accession number2009.2718
On View
Not on viewClassificationsSculpture
Collections
Gelede masquerades celebrate the special powers of female spirits known as, "the mothers". The mothers possess a powerful life force (ase), which can be used for benevolent of malevolent purposes. The destructive capacity of "the mothers" is called "aje" and is associated with infertility, impotency, and infant mortality. However, "the mothers" also have a benevolent influence that can cure illness and equitably disperse wealth, power, and prestige amongst the Yoruba. The ultimate goal of gelede performances is the maintenance of harmony in the community. The festival consists of a nighttime performance (efe), and an afternoon spectacle, when maskers usually appear in pairs and allude to social roles.
ProvenanceSold by a Mr. Omar, Cambridge, MA, to Geneviève McMillan (b. 1922 - d. 2008), Cambridge, MA; 2008, to the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation, Cambridge; 2009, gift of the Geneviève McMillan and Reba Stewart Foundation to the MFA. (Accession Date: June 17, 2009)
