From the Kingdom of Benin to the arts of the Yoruba, Nigeria is home to ancient and vibrant art traditions.
c. 15th century - present
From the Kingdom of Benin to the arts of the Yoruba, Nigeria is home to ancient and vibrant art traditions.
c. 15th century - present
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Royal patrons, artists, and power in the Kingdom of Benin.
The audience hall in the palace in Benin City communicated to visiting ambassadors, traders, courtiers, and subjects the power and wealth of the Oba, or king.
The convention of elongating the figure can be seen in many of Olowe’s carvings, to visually highlight the importance of the head that holds the inner spiritual power, dignity and strength, and sacredness of one’s destiny.
This mask depicts the king’s mother, whose ruthless political prowess ensured that her son became king.
The high rate of twining among the Yoruba peoples gave birth to a genre of spiritual objects for mourning parents.
This intricate ivory mask symbolizes the king’s dual nature as human and divine—and honors his mother.
Little was known of the Ife civilization—that is until seventeen cast bronze heads were found by chance.
Ife’s refined and highly naturalistic sculptural tradition was unlike anything else in Africa at the time.
Benin’s brass-casting tradition combined West African smelting techniques with imported brass from Europe.
The Benin bronzes created a stir, completely changing European understanding of African history.
Nigerian independence inspired artists to develop a new national and artistic identity based on “natural synthesis.”
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