About this artwork
The painted surface of this haunting mask suggests it was made for the nighttime performance (Efe) that precedes Gelede’s daytime spectacle. The light-colored paint would have made the mask easier to see in the dark. Efe lasts until dawn and includes a series of masked characters, culminating with the appearance of Efe, a grand figure who speaks with the authority of the Great Mother. The event uses songs, poetry, and satire to entertain Our Mothers—female elders, ancestors, and deities—and the community; underlying this, however, is the serious work of prayer and the invoking of spiritual forces, whose proximity is increased by the mystery of night.
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Status
- Currently Off View
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Department
- Arts of Africa
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Culture
- Yoruba
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Title
- Headdress for Efe Gelede
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Place
- Nigeria (Object made in)
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Date
- 1875–1925
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Medium
- Wood and pigment
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Inscriptions
- ink notation: "3372" label: "22"
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Dimensions
- 36.8 × 25.3 × 20 cm (14 1/2 × 9 × 7 7/8 in.)
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Credit Line
- Through prior gift of Mr. and Mrs. Raymond J. Weilgus
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Reference Number
- 1988.22
Extended information about this artwork
Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.
