Yoruba Mask, Nigeria

Yoruba Mask, Nigeria

Carved Gelede mask with scarification. bird figures surround top. Head had ear flaps. Birds are painted yellow, white , and red.
  • Object: Yoruba Mask, Nigeria
  • Artist: -
  • Circa: -
  • Dimensions: 16"H x 10"W x 10"D
  • Culture Area: Africa; Nigeria
  • Cultural Group: Yoruba
  • Cultural Context: Yoruba Mask, Nigeria The Yoruba of Western Nigeria and of the eastern parts of Dahomey are the largest of all the sculpture producing tribe of Africa. Besides a great variety of local cults, Yoruba religion and art are characterized by a number of universal cults of major deities, who clearly began as nature gods. One of the greatest of these is the cult of Shango, the thunder god. - Book Afrique by William Fagg, p.47 Research by student employee, Debora Vitaliano 09/08/2022
  • Donor: Barbara & Hiro Narita
  • Catalog #: 114.231