Gelede Masquerades of Yewa/Egbado people in Ilaro

Gelede is an ancient society spreading from the Ogun state Egbado area of Nigeria to the Republic of Benin. There are two Gelede origin stories that are often told. The first says that Gelede masquerades were invented by Yemoja, the ancient deity of Ogun river in Yorubaland, and that she was the first to dance it (Gelede) and she became the mother of Gelede and Efe, a mask of the Gelede society.

The second story says that Gelede originated through a fertility dance given to Odua, mother of the earth in Egbado. Another ancient female deity worshipped by the Egbados Odua was said to have sunk into the ground in Igbo Itolu village in Ilaro. 

Note: there is a difference between Oduduwa (male King of Ife) and Odua (female deity of Egbados). Baba Solomon is pictured below with Gelede in Egbado.

Gelede is also danced when there is no rain and after the dance, the rain will fall. It’s also used to stop “abiku” children from dying and to stop pestilence since it's connected to another Orisa called Omolu and Nana Bukuu known to the Egbados and to Fon and Ewe people of both Benin Republic and Togo.