How to impress your courtiers: a lesson from the Kingdom of Benin
Nigeria
This mask depicts the king’s mother, whose ruthless political prowess ensured that her son became king.
Benin ivory mask (Edo peoples)
The high rate of twining among the Yoruba peoples gave birth to a genre of spiritual objects for mourning parents.
Ere Ibeji Figures (Yoruba peoples)
This intricate ivory mask symbolizes the king’s dual nature as human and divine—and honors his mother.
Queen Mother Pendant Mask (Iyoba) (Edo peoples)
Little was known of the Ife civilization—that is until seventeen cast bronze heads were found by chance.
Ife uncovered
Ife’s refined and highly naturalistic sculptural tradition was unlike anything else in Africa at the time.
Kingdom of Ife: Sculptures from West Africa
Benin’s brass-casting tradition combined West African smelting techniques with imported brass from Europe.
Benin and the Portuguese
The Benin bronzes created a stir, completely changing European understanding of African history.
The Kingdom of Benin
Nigerian independence inspired artists to develop a new national and artistic identity based on “natural synthesis.”
Uche Okeke
This plaque depicting the Oba (king) and his imperial retinue hung outside the palace, detailing dynastic history.
Benin plaque: Equestrian Oba and Attendants
These carved wooden figures have human faces but animal attributes, and reflected the achievements of their owners.
Ikenga (Igbo peoples)
This equestrian king is clearly powerful, but he rests on a nude female figure from whom his power is derived.
Olowe of Ise, veranda post (Yoruba peoples)
This British-born Nigerian artist brings a Rococo painting into three dimensions, changing some critical details.