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Festivals Benin Gelede Festival
🇧🇯 Benin 🎭 Masquerade

Gelede Festival

Traditional masquerade festival

When Usually March-June or November-December
Duration 2 days
Where Benin

When it happensTimed by the season, the harvest or the moon, so it drifts by weeks from year to year. It runs on and off, often depending on funding, so check before booking.

Where it happens

UNESCO-recognized cultural festival celebrating mothers and female ancestors

About Gelede Festival

A traditional festival dedicated to Mother Earth.

Origins & significance

Originated from the Yoruba people to honor women and mothers as providers of life.

How it's celebrated

Participants wear elaborate masks and perform dances.

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Gelede Festival — Festival Page on Lughayangu
Last updated 5 Sep 2026.
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