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Yoruba Anago Gelede Maternity Masque Antique African Body Mask Nigeria
An Important OLD Yoruba Anago Gelede Pregnant Body Mask Antique African Tribal Art Benin Republic Nigeria
Collected from the: Anago Yoruba peoples of the Benin Republic/Nigerian border region, West Africa Material: Hardwood, pigment Period: Very early 20th century
Dimensions: 30" height, 16.75" width, 11.5" depth; weight is 7.50 pounds Condition: Excellent. Rare specimen from a private Parisian collection, significant signs of age, wear and tribal use, all exposed wood presents significant patination. Interesting indigenous "cross-stitched" repairs at two small age cracks, well patinated scuffed back exterior rim indicative of frequent use - exceptional!
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Yoruba Gelede Maternity Masks The Yoruba maintain several more-or-less secret societies which have their own ceremonies and exercise some powers. Of these, the Gelede society practices a fecundity-fertility cult that ensures its members prosperity and health by means of ritual dances carried out according to the will of the ancestors. Each dancer wears a mask atop his head; they perform every year during festivals as well as at member’s funerals. They appear in pairs, up to a total of forty or fifty dancers, all with masks of different shapes and specific names. Each pair performs alone, imitating the gait of certain animals or the flight of various birds. Among the western Yoruba-speaking kingdoms, the Gelede cult pays homage to the power of women, especially elderly ones, known affectionately as "our mothers" (awon iya wa) whose powers are comparable with those of gods, spirits, or ancestors and may be used for the benefit or the destruction of society. Gelede performances are intended to entertain and enlighten the community and "our mothers", pleasing, placating, and thus encouraging them to use their extraordinary powers for the well being of society. Hence the performances are a sacrifice, an appeal to forces in the world that offer explicit commentary on social and spiritual matters, helping to shape society in constructive ways. The themes in Gelede imagery may be grouped broadly into three categories: role recognition; satire; and concerns about the workings of various cosmic forces. These categories are often not mutually exclusive. In the first, groups are praised or honored for their contributions to society while the second does just the opposite – ridicules and damns anti-social persons groups. The third, by both explicit depictions and/or metaphoric allusions, treats cosmic forces affecting the community. The Anago-Yoruba straddle the present day border between Nigeria and the Republic of Benin and, along with the Nago and Holi of Benin, practice the gelede, using originally conceived abdominal body masks of pregnant females with an emphasized, enlarged sex. See Africa: the Art of a Continent and L'Art Africain for further details.
Yoruba Tribal History Nine to ten million Yoruba live in southwestern Nigeria and Dahomey where their ancient urban system allowed the development of a political organization, military security, and rules of sanitation. Religion and the notion of the divinity of kings helped impose order and maintain it with the aid of discipline. The origins of the Yoruba peoples can be traced back to the end of the first millennium, along with the Ife civilization. From at least the thirteenth century the Yoruba had looked upon Ife as the ile, or home, of the Yoruba people and the Oni (Ife King) was considered the father of all Yoruba obas. The Yoruba city of Owo, one of the largest on the Guinea coast, was established in the ninth century, and flourished during the 15th and 16th centuries primarily because of its location along the well established trade route connecting the cities of Ife and Benin. These early trade routes significantly contributed in bringing the Benin and Ife art to the early Yoruba peoples, and Yoruba art, especially the metal work, was notably influenced by trade with both the Portuguese and the Benin and Ife Kingdoms during the 16th century. One of the most remarkable periods in Yoruba history was that of the Oyo Empire. From approximately 1680 to 1830 the capital city of Oyo-Ile (Old Oyo) and the Alafin (king) were a powerful presence shaping the course of events for almost all of the Yoruba subgroups. The various Yoruba tribes spread across Nigeria today are composed of several cults, including the Epa, Gelede, Ogboni, and Esu.
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Please contact us immediately if ~ for any reason ~ you are not pleased with your selection. We will gladly refund the purchase price of any item returned in its original condition within 14 days of dated delivery. Our commitment to 5 Star customer service and satisfaction ensures that YOUR satisfaction is Unconditionally Guaranteed ~ NO questions asked!
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We're delighted to combine shipments and reduce your costs, simply email your Zip/Postal Code PRIOR to making payment. All major credit cards and PayPal are gladly accepted. Payment is expected within 7 days of your purchase. In consideration of discounts given, we respectfully request immediate payment on all Best Offers unless arrangements are made prior to acceptance. Please contact us directly if other payment arrangements are necessary - we're always happy to help!
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