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. It is believed to represent a king .
What is the importance of the IFE head?
It established significant political and religious authority in the lower Niger region, in what is now modern Nigeria. Its rulers promoted crafts, particularly copper-alloy casting, weaving, and bead-making. Its legacy includes outstanding naturalistic works of art in stone, terracotta and metal.
Why is the Ife culture 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.
What is the IFE head made of?
This free-standing brass head cast in the lost wax technique was discovered in 1938 at Wunmonije Compound in Ife, Nigeria. It was found by accident during house building works together with sixteen other brass and copper heads and the upper half of a brass figure.
What made Ife significant According to Yoruba myth?
According to Yoruba myth, Ife was the center of the creation of the world and all mankind. Ife was home to many sacred groves located in the city’s forests. ... Its elaborate beaded headdress , possibly representing a crown, suggest that it was associated with an Ooni, a ruler of Ife.
What do the fine lines on the face of the head of a king from Ife represent?
There are two styles of Ife heads. One type has vertical lines on the face, likely to represent scarification . Others are smooth, without marks, although the male heads often have holes around the hairline. It has been suggested that the heads originally had hair inserted in these holes.
What is the king from Ife holding?
He wears the traditional regalia of a king, a beaded crown and necklaces, and holds in his hands a scepter and a medicine horn , the symbols of his power and authority.
What is the oldest Ife tradition?
Ile Ife is said to be dated back around 500 B.C. when it was founded and is the oldest Yoruba city. It is presently part of Osun State and has an estimated population of 501,000 people.
What was unique about the Nok people?
Nok culture is known for its unique terracotta sculptures and its early iron working . ... Archaeologists have analyzed the clay used by Nok people in their sculptures and discovered that all the clay likely came from the same source, suggesting that a central authority controlled the supply.
What is the culture of Benin?
Benin’s culture remains deeply influenced by the legacy of the slave trade as well as by voodoo – the national religion. Explore festivals, fetishes, markets and palaces to gain a greater insight into this fascinating culture.
Why are there holes in the bronze Ife head near the mouth?
These brass heads differ from the terracotta ones in that they all have holes around the hairline and on their necks, and some have holes on the face. A bead was found in one of the holes, and scholars conclude the holes were used to attach a beaded veil to hide the mouth (Drewal, Schildkrout 2009).
Why is Ife art called court?
THE early Benin art was referred to as “Court Art” hence ”Court Art of Benin” This is because the Oba or King of Benin had a monopoly of the art works , though technically speaking, they are all brass. ... It could therefore be logically deduced that the Benin people learnt the art of bronze casting from Ife.
Who is Ooni of Ife in Nigeria?
Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi; (Ọjájá II) (born 17 October 1974) is the 51st and current Ooni of Ife. He is the traditional ruler/monarch of the Yoruba kingdom of Ile-Ife. He acceded to the throne in 2015 succeeding the deceased Oba Okunade Sijuwade.
Who is the first king of Ile Ife?
| House of Oodua | Motto Ife, Ile Awon Orisha (Yoruba for “Ife, Land of the Gods”) |
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What is the history of Ife?
Ife (aka Ile-Ife) was an ancient African city which flourished between the 11th and 15th century CE in what is today Nigeria in West Africa. Ife was the capital and principal religious centre of the Yoruba kingdom of Ife, which prospered thanks to trade connections with other West African kingdoms.
What is the oldest kingdom in Nigeria?
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.
