Gelede Ceremony, Nr Cove, Benin

(filmed / edited: Tim Harrison, near Cove, Benin, August 2017) The Gelede ceremony uses art, ritual and dance to inform, educate and inspire. Gelede celebrates “Mothers” (awon iya wa), a group that includes female ancestors and deities as well as the elderly women of the community, and the power and spiritual capacity these women have in society. The origins of Gelede can be found In the Yoruba Odu Ifa, Gelede is the daughter of Yemoja, mother of all orisas and living things. The purpose of Gelede can be su