Opon Ifa (divining tray) 1650 made by an Aja artist based on Yoruba model

-Connection with the Spirit world

(evoking wisdom)

-Borders of the trays are embellished with geometric and figurative  motifs, including at least one Eshu Figure. (Eshu is believed to be the one to "deliver the message")

-equivilant to the Eurpopean Bible to Missionaries

(No Image Available)

Perani & Smith Fig. 5.19 

Veranda Pillars Yoruba Courtyard at Ikere, Nigeria before 1938

Olowe of Ise (famous travelling sculptor)

-Pillars used to characterize the King's palace 

-columns represent iconic themes: maternity figure (fertility of the king's wives), equestrian figure (king's physical and intellectual strength)

Eshu figure wood, leather, cowrie shells before 1930?

Mediator between the realms

Trickster 

-personifies the "energy of action"

-usually portrayed as a male with lots of hair and a knife coming out of his head.

-the hair symbolizes: energy, aggression, sexuality

-the cowrie shells: currency, wealth, and the market

-female figures kneeling with knife blades coming out of their heads are "Eshu Devotees" 

Messes up your life in a "wonderful way" 

ere ibeji Akiode (?) wood 20th century

-Yoruba belive that twin children share a single soul

-figures created upon the death of one of the twins, believed to "harness the life force" of the deceased twin.

 -Families take care of the ibeji like a child, because they wish to be blessed by the deceased twin's special powers.

-vary from 8-11 inches in height 

Early State-Society in the Eastern Guinea Coast

10th-18th centuries

City-States

depended on trade on commerce for their economic system 

Ancient city in Yoruba

center of the universe and the source of Yoruba tradition

Through royal patronage, Ife led to the tradition of "court arts" 

popular Orisha

Orisha of Chance and Uncertainty 

 personifies the energy of action that animates the Yoruba world

Visually: Hair, whistle, cowrie shells, "dual nature" 

vital force of women (an energy of action)

?? 

evoking wisdom

system consulted for advice in fixing earthly problems.

Like Harry Potter 

Divination tray

Rectangular with Circle within

Eshu figure included in the border design 

Twins figures

 Created to honor a deceased twin.

Families treat the Ibeji as their child so the the twin will benefit the family with their "Special Powers"