Yorùbá Beaded Crown from Nigeria

The Yorùbá beaded crown would have been worn by the king. It helped to deify the ruler to the level of a living orisha (god). It also protected both the king and his public by obscuring his face. Looking at the king, was considered dangerous and was believed to cause blindness.

Elaborate glass beading is a sign of royalty. They emphasize the wealth and status of a king. Each bead color represents a different Yoruba god. Since the king is protected by all the gods, the colors symbolize his divinity.

A beaded cone-shaped crown with a long fringe of beads that covers the wearer's face is the most important symbol of Yoruba kingship. Beaded crowns signify that the king-wearer can trace his ancestry to Odudua, the mythical founder of the sixteen original Yoruba kingdoms.

A Yorùbá king might have several different beaded crowns to wear for particular occasions. Each ritual crown has its own oriki (chanted attributes or oral history).