The beaded Yoruba crown, or headdress, is a crucial symbol of the Oba’s authority. Among these crowns, the adenla variety features a beaded veil that conceals the Oba’s face, diminishing their personal identity to emphasize their role as a divine ruler who bridges the secular and spiritual worlds. This veil also represents the Oba’s royal lineage, tracing back to Odudua, the legendary founder of the original sixteen Yoruba kingdoms. The beaded veils are adorned with geometric patterns, birds, and images of past and present kings. While the interpretation of some patterns and motifs may vary, the birds are widely recognized as symbols of the king’s power to mediate between the physical and spiritual realms.
The beaded Yoruba crown, or headdress, is a crucial symbol of the Oba’s authority. Among these crowns, the adenla variety features a beaded veil that conceals the Oba’s face, diminishing their personal identity to emphasize their role as a divine ruler who bridges the secular and spiritual worlds. This veil also represents the Oba’s royal lineage, tracing back to Odudua, the legendary founder of the original sixteen Yoruba kingdoms. The beaded veils are adorned with geometric patterns, birds, and images of past and present kings. While the interpretation of some patterns and motifs may vary, the birds are widely recognized as symbols of the king’s power to mediate between the physical and spiritual realms.
89 H x 26 d cm |