Nigerian Cap Mask

Rights Information

Resource Type

image

Title

Nigerian Cap Mask

Coverage / Year

Early 20th Century
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

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.
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

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

http://images.library.uiuc.edu/projects/tdc/conditions.htm
For any further information related to this record, please contact the Collection Publisher. See http://images.library.uiuc.edu/projects/tdc for more information about this project.

Resource Identifier

LVM1985.040.006

Date Created

37419

Resource Type	image
Title	Nigerian Cap Mask
Coverage / Year	Early 20th Century 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	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. 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
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	http://images.library.uiuc.edu/projects/tdc/conditions.htm For any further information related to this record, please contact the Collection Publisher. See http://images.library.uiuc.edu/projects/tdc for more information about this project.
Resource Identifier	LVM1985.040.006
Date Created	37419

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