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#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.
Where is Ife art originated from?
An important urban center in contemporary southwestern Nigeria, Ife’s origins can be traced as far back as the sixth century, when it began as a cluster of some thirteen hamlets.
Who discovered Ife art in 1910?
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).
What year was Ife art discover?
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.
What is Ife artwork?
Sculpture. 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. The technical sophistication of the casting process is matched by the artworks’ enduring beauty.
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.
Who is the father of art?
Giorgio Vasari has been variously called the father of art history, the inventor of artistic biography, and the author of “the Bible of the Italian Renaissance”—a little book called The Lives of the Artists.
Who discovered Nok artifacts in 1943?
The artifacts were discovered in 1943 during mining operations. The archaeologist Bernard Fagg investigated the site, and with the help of locals discovered many other artifacts. Iron smelting furnaces were also found at Nok. Occupation dates far before the first iron smelting.
Where was the Benin art discovered?
Benin art became well known to the West in 1897, after the British Punitive Expedition sacked the city of Benin and brought thousands of objects back to Europe as war booty.
Who discovered Ori Olokun?
This was especially appropriate as on its last visit some 60 years previously, the Olokun head had been examined and condemned as a sand cast copy.
Did Benin originate from Yoruba?
The Yoruba kingdoms of Benin and Ife sprang up between the 11th and 12th centuries. The present-day Benin monarch declared his ancestry from Oranmiyan through Ekaladerhan and direct to the Ogiso dynasty. As far as historical memory extends, the Yoruba have been the dominant group on the west bank of the Niger.
Who is the first king of Ile-Ife?
Ile-Ife is the cradle of civilisation for millions of people all over the world. That title is not a joking matter.” As descendants of Oduduwa, the first king of Ile-Ife who is believed to have been a demi-God who descended from heaven to create the earth, the Oonis are considered sacred.
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.
Is Obatala a god?
The most powerful and sweetest god is Obatala, a universally known deity. Much like Christian Jesus, Obatala is the child of god. Olorun, the father, permitted Obatala, the child, to descend from the heavens, create land over the waters, and template human bodies from popo (mud and clay).
Was Obatala a real person?
History records it that Obatala was the ruler of the indigenous peoples of southwestern Nigeria when they were conquered by Oduduwa. The exact date of the encounter remains problematic, owing largely to the nature of the source of information, oral tradition.
Who is Obatala Ayaguna?
Ayagunna is the youngest path, or avatar, of the undergod Obatala in the Lukumi (Santería) pantheon. In this manifestation, Obatala is a youth who battles with a scimitar. He is credited with having spread gunpowder throughout the world.
Who is the first artist?
More than 65,000 years ago, a Neanderthal reached out and made strokes in red ochre on the wall of a cave, and in doing so, became the first known artist on Earth, scientists claim. The discovery overturns the widely-held belief that modern humans are the only species to have expressed themselves through works of art.
Who is the father of Fine Arts?
Considered the “Father of modern art”, Post-Impressionist Paul Cezanne’s fresh, lively canvases broke with artistic tradition and led the way for the 20th century avant-garde.
Who is the father of Indian art?
Raja Ravi Varma, also known as ‘The Father of Modern Indian Art’ was an Indian painter of the 18th century who attained fame and recognition for portraying scenes from the epics of the Mahabharata and Ramayana.
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 is the history of Nok?
The Nok culture was one of the earliest known societies of Western Africa. It existed in modern-day Nigeria from around 500 B.C.E. to 200 C.E. The Nok farmed crops and used iron tools. Nok culture is known for its unique terracotta sculptures and its early iron working.
Where is Nok Found in Nigeria?
Located east of the Niger River and north of the Benue River in what is today northern and central Nigeria, the Nok culture is named after the town where the first artefacts were discovered.
