In traditional Yoruba society, powerful spiritual women, female spirits and ancestors are referred to as “our mothers” (awon iya wa), and are considered “the owners of the world” (oni l’oni aye), while society constitutes “the children of our mothers.”
In order to avert damage caused by spiritual women of power and angered female spirits or witches (Aje), male Gèlèdé dancers wearing masks depicting both male and female ancestors, perform annual ritual dances at the beginning of every new agricultural cycle, to placate and honor these volatile female spirits. This is done in the market places, which are the uncontested domain of women.
Oral traditions place the origin of Gèlèdé with the Ketu-Yoruba people in the 18th century, from where it spread to the other Yoruba groups.
Gèlèdé masks are tilted at a 45-degree angle on the forehead, which is taken into account by the sculptor when carving the mask.
