Yoruba Art and Culture
Overview
The Yoruba of West Africa — in present-day Benin, Nigeria, and Togo — have developed a distinctive and enduring artistic tradition. This tradition spans royal regalia, beadwork, carved architectural elements, shrine art, and masking practices tied to religious and cultural life.
Royal and Shrine Art
- Many artworks, including staffs, crowns, and beadwork, are tied to royal courts.
- Architectural commissions include carved veranda posts, gates, and doors.
- Shrines dedicated to Yoruba deities are adorned with carvings and altar figures.
- Masking traditions vary regionally, with masks used in festivals and ceremonies.
Historical Development
- Around 800 CE, artists at Ife developed refined, naturalistic sculpture in terracotta, stone, and copper alloys, often under the patronage of King Obalufon II — now regarded as the patron deity of brass casting, weaving, and regalia.
- The Ife Empire influenced the Oyo, Owo, and Benin kingdoms.
- Yoruba kingdoms thrived until the 19th-century disruptions from the slave trade and warfare, leading to the dispersal of millions of Yoruba globally and influencing New World cultures.
Art Timeline in Ife
- Archaic Era: before 800 CE
- Pre-Pavement Era: 800–1000
- Early Pavement Era: 1000–1200
- Late Pavement Era: 1200–1400
- Post-Pavement Era: 1400 – c. 1600
- Stylized Humanism Era: c. 1600 – present
Art, Cosmology, and Creation
- Yoruba cosmology centers on Olódùmarè, the Supreme Divinity, source of ase — the power that sustains and transforms the universe.
- Obatala, commissioned by Olódùmarè, molded the first human from clay.
- The segmented or seriate style in Yoruba art reflects cosmological principles, seen in Ifa trays, carved doors, veranda posts, and masks.
The Orí in Yoruba Art
- Orí-Inú (inner spiritual head) is central to personal destiny.
- Shrines and terracotta heads represent the Orí.
- Life outcomes depend on the chosen Orí before birth; sacrifices honor Orí-Isese, ruler of all Orí.
Anonymity and Authorship
- In Yoruba culture, artists are respected locally but their names are rarely recorded with artworks.
- Notable Yoruba artists include:
- Bangboshe of Osi Ilorin
- Bandele Areogun of Osi
- Master of Ikare
- Lamidi Fakeye
- Olowe of Ise
Art Forms and Media
Metal Arts
- Blacksmiths hand-beat, weld, and cast iron sculptures.
- Brass casting via lost-wax technique is linked to the Ogboni society.
Ivory, Wood, and Terracotta
- Ivory and wood carving, along with terracotta sculpture, have deep historical roots.
Masquerade Traditions
- Egúngún, Gelede, and Epa are prominent masquerade forms symbolizing the connection between body, spirit, and community.
Yoruba Crowns
- The ade (beaded crown) with veil signifies royal authority and ancestral force.
Performance Arts
- Alarinjo theatre, dating to the medieval period, influenced modern Nigerian cinema.
Esiẹ Museum
- Located in Irepodun, Kwara State — Nigeria’s first museum (opened 1945).
- Houses over 1,000 soapstone human figures, possibly linked to the Nok culture.
- Hosts an annual festival in April.