Adéńlá (big crown)

Only those descended from Odùduwà, founding ruler of the earliest center of civilization, Ile-Ife, are authorized to wear the adéńlá. It is through his crown, the preeminent emblem of divine kingship, that an ọba (king) becomes one with those who reigned before. A dramatic veil extends from the front, at once concealing the king’s face while protecting others from his penetrating gaze. The visages on four sides, accented here in deep blue, signify the watchful presence of Odùduwà’s royal bloodline. At the crown’s summit, birds underscore the importance of women in supporting and confirming authority. The almost exclusive use of white beads suggests purity and the quality of coolness attributed to several òrìṣàs, including Ọbàtálá, the divine sculptor, and Olókun, deity of the sea and patron of bead artists.