Gelede

Gelede, or Gẹlẹdẹ, is a traditional Yoruba masquerade festival practiced in southwestern Nigeria and in some neighboring communities. The festival centers on honoring and appeasing women’s roles in society—especially mothers, elder women, and female ancestors—and it is seen as a way to celebrate motherhood, social harmony, and community well-being. It also serves to articulate moral values and reinforce social norms through performance and ritual.

The core of Gelede is a performance by masqueraders, typically men, who wear elaborate regalia and oversized masks or headdresses that represent female elders and mother figures. Costumes are often richly decorated with beads, cloth, feathers, and mirrors, creating striking, colorful appearances. Music, dance, and poetry accompany the spectacle, with instruments such as talking drums and other percussion providing rhythmic structure. The performances blend praise for women with social messaging, including admonitions about behavior, responsibility, and communal care.

Gelede societies organize the festival, which can occur as a major, grand presentation or as smaller village events. Large productions, sometimes termed “great Gelede,” are distinguished by their scale, intricate headpieces, and extended length. Timings may align with local agricultural or ceremonial calendars, varying by community.

Scholars and art historians note Gelede for its vivid visual language and its insight into Yoruba gender relations, lineage, and social philosophy. The masquerade masks and regalia have also attracted attention in ethnographic study and modern art circles, highlighting the festival’s cultural and aesthetic significance within Yoruba culture.