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Beads Body and Soul by Henry John Drewal and John Mason explains
"There are two types of royal beaded headgear :
the first and most numerous are coronets known as orikogbofo (head must not be bare);
and the second group comprises the rare sacred crowns with faces, a veil, and birds known as adenla (big crown, "heavy" with power).
Both types are prepared with empowering substances that protect and guide the ruler. Crowns are beaded containers of ase, coverings guarding the ase with which the ruler's head is imbued.
The adenla (great crown) is usually worn only on the most important state occasions, whereas coronets are worn for other public events involving specific segments of the population."
As stated in Yoruba Beadwork by William Fagg;
"The right to wear crowns is limited to approximately fifty Yoruba kings. Theoretically, only direct descendents of one of the sixteen children of the god Orisha, the first king of the Yoruba people, can wear them. "Orisha" blessed mankind with the use of beads and their use is restricted to those whose spiritual powers enable them to move across the boundary that separates men from gods, the secular from the sacred.
The crown itself is worshipped. It is placed upon the king's head from behind, usually by a senior wife, because the King may not look upon the bird on the top, which holds powerful medicines to protect him and his destiny. The veil is to keep viewers from seeing the king's face, masking his individuality, and also focusing attention on the real focus of power, the crown. Crowns were limited to those who could trace their heritage to Odudua, the first king of Yoruba.
Crowns are called Orisha and are the object of care and veneration by a woman at court. The veil focuses the viewer's attention to the crown and to venerate the king's head. Orisha is the generic name for a deity and not a king. It was one of the "Orishas", Olokun (god of the sea) or Obalufon that gave humans the gift of beads. Bead usage was limited to kings, priests and priestesses, and certain diviners."
If you have more information concerning this object, its symbolism, its ritual use, its ethnos group, do not hesitate to leave us a comment while clicking over the lower button...
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+/- 40 |
Nigéria |
Yoruba |
80 x 28 |
4.800 |
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It is no shame at all to work for money. 
