14- early 15th century. (Copper alloy) Photo by Eyes of a Lagos Boy
Ile Ife, the legendary homeland of the Yoruba people of South-West Nigeria, today is a vibrant urban centre with major institutions, including a university, museums, a lively market and business establishments. The 51st Ooni of Ife, HRM Ooni Adeyeye Enitan Babatunde Akande Ogunwusi, Ojaja II is one of the world’s oldest extant monarchies and remains its traditional head.
I visited this exhibition of rare Ife artifacts held in Stockholm, Sweden in January 2014. It presented hundreds of sculptures made out of metal, stone and terracotta telling the story of the ancient African civilization of Ile Ife. It highlights Ife’s most prominent era, from the 12th to the 15th century.
Yoruba people are not only present in West Africa, many of their descendants live in Brazil, Cuba, Haiti and USA, basically all around the Americas. Together, they are estimated to be around 70 million.
In 1910, the German Anthropologist Leo Frobenius discovered the copper cast head said to represent the god Olokun and erroneously attributed it to the ancient Greeks.
Seated Figure Late 13th- or 14th Century. Copper (with traces of arsenic, lead and tin) From Tada, a village to the North of Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Eyes of a Lagos Boy
Seated Figure Late 13th- or 14th Century. Copper (with traces of arsenic, lead and tin) From Tada, a village to the North of Ile Ife, Nigeria. Photo by Eyes of a Lagos Boy
In 1938 a turning point arose in the understanding of the art of Ife. While constructing a house close to the Ooni’s (ancestral head of Ile Ife) palace, many of the copper alloy royal portraits in this exhibition were uncovered.
This discovery confirmed Ife’s place as a world-class art-centre. Before this, the art was barely known and clearly misunderstood.
These ancient Yoruba artefacts are permanently on travelling exhibitions around the world. They have not been seen in Nigeria in the last four decades.
Mask called “Obalufon” 14th-early 15th century. (Copper) From the Ife Palace, Nigeria.
Found in 1938 by workmen digging a foundation at Wunmonije Compound, Ife, Nigeria.
From the Wunmonije Compound, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
The images of vultures pecking at bound humans on this shrine object is a sign that rites were performed and accepted by the gods.
12th-15 century (Terracotta)
Found in 1958 during an archaeological excavation at Ita Yemo, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
Male Torso 12th-13th century (Terracotta)
12th-15th century (Terracotta) Discovered in 1961 when a fuel tank was being set in the ground near the Ibadan Road, Ife, Nigeria. – Photo By Eyes of a Lagos Boy
Chameleon – 12th-15th century (Terracotta) Discovered in 1961 when a fuel tank was being set in the ground near the Ibadan Road, Ife, Nigeria. – Photo By Eyes of a Lagos Boy
(L) 12th-15 From the Iwinrin Grove, 1949. Ile Ife.
(R) 17th-19th century. Discovered in 1962 in eroding soil at Ogbon Oya, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
12th- 15th century (Terracotta)
From the Osangangan Obamakin Grove, Ile Ife Nigeria.
14th- early 15th century (Copper alloy)
Found in 1943 at Itajero, Ile Ife, Nigeria.
WOW…. This is beautifull and very educatif
Thank you for showing the world
Glad you like them, Hilde.. Thank you..
Terrific….just learn a thing or two, thank you!
Thank you so much, Tee sam.. Glad you find it interesting..