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Nigerian Cap Mask

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https://digital.library.illinois.edu/items/d00cf910-0d92-0135-23f6-0050569601ca-f
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Descriptive Information

Title
Nigerian Cap Mask  
Coverage-Year
1900/1950
Coverage-Spatial
Nigeria  
Description
  • and a carved line representing a beard extending from the hairline to the chin. A hat that extends upwards and back from the forehead is painted yellow with a narrow red band at the bottom.  
  • almond-shaped scarification marks on the cheeks and forehead  
  • a wide, flattened nose, a closed mouth with full lips  
  • This wooden mask is hollow and made to set atop a dancer's head. The face has almond-shaped eyes with round holes cut through the middle  
Interpretation
Dancers wear this type of mask (efe) in the annual ceremonies of the Gelede Society. Although both men and women can be members of the Society, only men dance in the masquerades. The mask sits on top of the head, leaving the dancer's face uncovered; a bulky and brightly colored costume was worn with this mask. The Yorubans maintain strong connections with spiritual powers that connect them to their ancestors and provide continuity from generation to generation. The annual Gelede Society ceremony is one of the rituals that reinforce that link. Elderly women, known as "the mothers", are respected for their spiritual powers that can benefit or ruin the community. Gelede dancers appease the potentially dangerous powers of the mothers by paying tribute to them, encouraging them to foster the well-being of the community, and by ensuring human fertility and abundant crops.  
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • African Novel Study  
  • African Folk Tales  
Learning Standards
  • 25-27 Fine Arts  
  • 18 Social Systems  
  • 16 History  
Author or Creator
  • Gelede (Yoruba rite)  
  • Yoruba (African people) Social life and customs  
Source
Donated to the Lakeview Museum by Richard K. Meyer.  
Subject / Keywords
  • Dancers  
  • Nigeria  
  • Ritual objects  
  • Masks  
  • Africa  
Collection Publisher
Lakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences
Rights Management Statement
Copyright Not Evaluated
Resource Identifier
LVM1985.040.006  
Date Created
37419
Collection Title
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)  
Collection
Teaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)
TitleNigerian Cap Mask  
Coverage-Year1900/1950
Coverage-SpatialNigeria  
Description
  • and a carved line representing a beard extending from the hairline to the chin. A hat that extends upwards and back from the forehead is painted yellow with a narrow red band at the bottom.  
  • almond-shaped scarification marks on the cheeks and forehead  
  • a wide, flattened nose, a closed mouth with full lips  
  • This wooden mask is hollow and made to set atop a dancer's head. The face has almond-shaped eyes with round holes cut through the middle  
InterpretationDancers wear this type of mask (efe) in the annual ceremonies of the Gelede Society. Although both men and women can be members of the Society, only men dance in the masquerades. The mask sits on top of the head, leaving the dancer's face uncovered; a bulky and brightly colored costume was worn with this mask. The Yorubans maintain strong connections with spiritual powers that connect them to their ancestors and provide continuity from generation to generation. The annual Gelede Society ceremony is one of the rituals that reinforce that link. Elderly women, known as "the mothers", are respected for their spiritual powers that can benefit or ruin the community. Gelede dancers appease the potentially dangerous powers of the mothers by paying tribute to them, encouraging them to foster the well-being of the community, and by ensuring human fertility and abundant crops.  
Lesson Plans / Themes
  • African Novel Study  
  • African Folk Tales  
Learning Standards
  • 25-27 Fine Arts  
  • 18 Social Systems  
  • 16 History  
Author or Creator
  • Gelede (Yoruba rite)  
  • Yoruba (African people) Social life and customs  
SourceDonated to the Lakeview Museum by Richard K. Meyer.  
Subject / Keywords
  • Dancers  
  • Nigeria  
  • Ritual objects  
  • Masks  
  • Africa  
Collection PublisherLakeview Museum of Arts and Sciences
Rights Management StatementCopyright Not Evaluated
Resource IdentifierLVM1985.040.006  
Date Created37419
Collection TitleTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)  
CollectionTeaching with Digital Content (Cultural Heritage Community)

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