The festival encourages the mothers to use their extraordinary powers for the well-being of the community by ensuring human fertility and fertile lands. Although Gelede masks and costumes are for the most part feminine, only men dance in the Gelede masquerades. It is the men in Yoruba society who fear most the destructive powers of the ancient mothers. Therefore, it is the men who organize the Gelede masquerades. The masquerades are performed from March until May in anticipation of the rains.
Masquerades also occur at funerals in order to appease the spirits of the deceased.
The costumes that are worn during the Gelede festivals are bulky. Brightly colored clothes completely conceal the figure of the dancer. The masquerades are danced in pairs, with two identical 'twin' masks. The fact that the dances are performed in pairs indicates the abundance of twins in Yoruba society and also the strong belief that every member of Yoruba society is born from the ancient mothers. The mask is worn flat on top of the dancer's head, leaving the face of the dancer uncovered.