Gẹlẹdẹ: Art and Female Power Among the Yoruba

Gẹlẹdẹ: Art and Female Power Among the Yoruba explores the Gẹlẹdẹ festival, a vibrant and deeply symbolic Yoruba tradition honoring the spiritual power of women, especially mothers and female deities. Written by Henry John Drewal and Margaret Thompson Drewal, this book examines the festival’s rich artistic expressions, including elaborate masks, costumes, dance, and music. The authors analyze how Gẹlẹdẹ functions as a form of social commentary, reinforcing gender roles, political authority, and community values. Through extensive fieldwork, historical context, and stunning visual documentation, this volume provides an essential resource for understanding the intersection of art, spirituality, and gender among the Yoruba people.