YORUBA, GELEDE HEADDRESS, Nigeria © John Urban
Another Gelede headdress headlined our Yoruba exhibition.
"Color in African Art" dispels the image of dark, somber wood
objects with a luminous display of masks, figures, textiles and beadwork.
The emotions brought up by these painted or embellished objects mirror the
joy, spirit and love of color of the original makers and wearers.
The most impressive and varied collection comes from the Yoruba of Nigeria,
with many painted Gelede and Epa headdresses; beaded crowns, sashes and
vests; Egungun costumes and Ashoke textiles. There are vivid puppets from
the Bamana and Ibibio people. Colorful beadwork comes from the Ndebele of
South Africa and the Bamun and Bamileke of Cameroon. Bright, pigmented masks
of the Suku, Yaure, Pende, Baga, Tikar, Nafana, Bembe and others excite
the eye and spirit. The full glory of large Kente textiles of the Ashanti
exhibit their skill and love in combining the decorative with the symbolic.
Aglow with color, the show is too beautiful to be missed.