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The artists of Ife developed a refined and highly naturalistic sculptural tradition in stone, terracotta, brass and copper and created a style unlike anything in Africa at the time. According to Yoruba myth, Ife was the center of the creation of the world and all mankind.
What is the origin of Ife art?
According to Yoruba tradition, Ife was founded by the deities Oduduwa and Obatala when they created the world. Obatala fashioned the first humans out of clay while Oduduwa became the first divine king of the Yoruba people. Ife is world famous for its art.
What is the style of Ife art?
The art-historical importance of Ife works lies in their highly developed and distinctive sculptural style, described alternately as naturalistic, portraitlike, and humanistic. The delicately rendered vertical facial striations that appear on many of the sculptures may represent scarification patterns.
Where is Ife art found?
The Bronze Head from Ife, or Ife Head, is one of eighteen copper alloy sculptures that were unearthed in 1938 at Ife in Nigeria, the religious and former royal centre of the Yoruba people.
Who discovered Ife Art in Nigeria?
In 1910 the German anthropologist Leo Frobenius visited the Nigerian city of Ife and brought several ancient terracotta heads back to Germany. He claimed a Greek colony in Africa produced the incredibly naturalistic sculpture he discovered (Willett 1967: 14).
Why is Ife so important?
According to the Yoruba worldview, Ife is the place of origin of all humankind and is therefore of particular religious and political importance. Here the deities Odudua and Obatala, under instruction from the creator Olodumare, began the creation of the world.
Why is the Ife culture so important?
“The art of Ife and Benin is so important because one gives birth to the other. The Ife art was the most ancient in the forest region of Nigeria, simply because the Ife civilisation goes as far back as 300 – 500 BC. Therefore, it had developed a lot of artefacts, which marks the history of Ife.
What are the typical design characteristics of Ife sculpture?
Ife is most well-known for its bronze sculptures, typically in a naturalistic style . Stone and terra cotta artwork was also common, and leaders were often depicted with large heads to indicate their power.
What are kings in Ife called?
Specifically at Ife, the first divine ruler was Oni, whose name means ‘king’. The brass heads of Ife may represent rulers, gods, revered ancestors or have been used for some religious purpose.
What are the characteristics of Benin art?
Characteristics of Benin Art Beaded Neck. Mark on forehead. Semi naturalistic. It is the only art culture that has ivory. Mostly royal figures. Highly decorative.
Who excavated Ife art?
#4: Discovering Ife art Ife art was brought to international attention in 1910 when Leo Frobenius, a German ethnographer, discovered bronze and terracotta heads at Ife. The discovery changed people’s perception of African Art, but Frobenius had a misconception about its origin.
Who discovered Ife culture?
According to the traditions of the Yoruba religion, Ilé Ifè was founded by the order of the Supreme God Olodumare by Obatala. It then fell into the hands of his sibling Oduduwa, which created enmity between the two.
Who is Obatala?
Obatala or “Orisa Nla” (known as Obatalá in Nigeria and in Caribbean and South American Spanish and Oxalá in Brazil) is an orisha. He is believed, according to Yoruba cosmology, to be the Sky Father and the creator of human bodies, which were brought to life by the smooth breath of Olodumare.
How many Ife heads are there?
Eighteen heads have been found in total, and their stylistic similarities suggest that they were made by an individual artist or in a single workshop. What was life like in medieval Africa? The kingdom of Ife first emerged around AD 800.
What is the difference between Nok art and Ife art?
Nok art is stylized or semi-naturalistic while Ife art is realistic. Ife heads are more idealized in its composition while the Nok heads arc more stylized. Nok heads were made only in terra-cotta while Ife has both terra-cotta and bronze heads. Nok sculptures are older than Ife sculptures.
What is the relationship between Benin art and Ife art?
– human representation in Benin art is more of heads (commemorative) of Obas, while in Ife art, representation of heads are combined with the dominant full human figures. – Ife heads and figures have profuse scarification while Benin heads and masks have marks on their forehead.
What are Dogon sculptures made of?
Dogon sculpture recreates the hermaphroditic silhouettes of the Tellem, featuring raised arms and a thick patina made of blood and millet beer. The four Nommo couples, the mythical ancestors born of the god Amma, ornament stools, pillars or men’s meeting houses, door locks, and granary doors.
Is Ife in Oyo State?
Ile-Ife, also called Ife or Ife-Lodun, town, Osun state, southwestern Nigeria. The town lies at the intersection of roads from Ibadan (40 miles [64 km] west), Ilesha, and Ondo. It is one of the larger centres and probably the oldest town of the Yoruba people.
Is Ogun the son of Oduduwa?
He was the most adventurous of the members of Oduduwa’s household. The controversy surrounding his birth is due to the fact that both Oduduwa and his son Ogun had an affair with the same woman, Lakange, which resulted in Oranmiyan. Oranmiyan would later become the first Alaafin of Oyo, and the sixth Ooni of Ife.
What is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria?
Kingdom of Nri The Nri Kingdom in the Awka area was founded in about 900 AD in north central Igboland, and is considered the oldest kingdom in Nigeria.
What is being done about repatriation Ife and Benin art to Nigeria?
The Metropolitan Museum of Art announced on Wednesday that it planned to return two brass plaques from its collection, part of the group of West African artifacts known as the Benin Bronzes, to Nigeria, making it the latest institution to pursue repatriation of the looted works.
What is the Benin Kingdom known for?
The historical kingdom of Benin was established in the forested region of West Africa in the 1200s C.E. According to history, the Edo people of southern Nigeria founded Benin. Artists of the Benin Kingdom were well known for working in many materials, particularly brass, wood, and ivory.
What is sculpture of Benin?
What are they? The ‘Benin Bronzes’ (made of brass and bronze) are a group of sculptures which include elaborately decorated cast plaques, commemorative heads, animal and human figures, items of royal regalia, and personal ornaments.
Who is more powerful Alaafin of Oyo and Ooni of Ife?
The Alaafin on the other hand grew in prominence at a time when enforced migrations and wars scattered the Yoruba race, Oyo was stable and governed by strong kings making the Alaafin position influential. The Ooni is more recognized, because of the spiritual angle but neither king holds much sway because; 1.
