Guelede Mask – The Bird and the Fish | Francis Allokpon

The Bird and the Fish – A Story of Patience and Observation

This Guèlèdè mask by Francis Allokpon is titled "The Bird and the Fish (Èyẹ àti Ẹja)" and tells a story of patience, observation, and the right moment.

A hungry bird saw the fish in the river. Again and again, it dove into the water too quickly, missed its prey, and scared away the entire school.

One day, an old bird gave it some advice: it should wait, be patient, and observe. Only when the fish had forgotten the danger would the right moment arrive.

The bird followed this advice. From then on, it circled patiently above the water, observing and waiting for the right moment before diving down.

The message of the mask is: Success comes to those who work hard and know how to wait and observe.

With this piece, Francis Allokpon combines the tradition of Guèlèdè masks with a narrative depiction and his own contemporary design language. The mask is handmade in Benin and is a unique individual piece.

Details

• Artist: Francis Allokpon
• Origin: Benin
• Art form: Contemporary Guèlèdè mask
• Title: The Bird and the Fish (Èyẹ àti Ẹja)
• Dimensions: approx. 26 × 19 × 17 cm (H × W × D)
• Material: Wood
• Handmade unique piece