YORUBA STYLE GELEDE HEADDRESS 51

Despite its appearance this Gelede mask was probably made to be sold.

There seems to be a crosspiece missing at the top and a crack (now stable) down the right vertical form to the base (see last image above).

Gelede, a male association, uses the aesthetic power of sculpture, costume, song and dance to placate and please women, who have special spiritual power. Often with elaborate superstructures, the headdresses appear as identical pairs in the dances.