Oro Efe Mask

Recognized as part of the intangible cultural heritage of humanity since 2008, the Gelede masquerade emerged among the Yoruba in the Kétou area in Benin about the late eighteenth century. It pays tribute to the primordial mother Iyà Nlà and to the elderly women called “our mothers” (awon iya wa), encouraging them to use their power for the good of the community. The ceremony begins with a dance at night that culminates with the appearance of Oro Efe, whose chants tackle both sacred and secular subjects, particularly through using satire to criticize antisocial behaviours. The birds depicted on this helmet mask are a reference to their role as messengers of the gods.