Christopher L. C. E. Witcombe Professor of Art History Sweet Briar College, Virginia Online since 24 October 1995 African Art Last updated April 2008 THIS PAGE The Arts of Africa Akan Adinkra Adire Asanti Baule Bedu Benin Gelede Ife Igbo Ndebele Nok Yoruba Zulu SITE INDEX Contents Page Prehistoric Art Ancient Near East Ancient Egyptian Art Ancient Greek Art Ancient Roman Art Art in Late Antiquity Art in Early Europe Islamic Art Early Medieval Art Gothic Art Renaissance Art in Italy Renaissance Art Outside Italy Baroque Art 18th-Century Art 19th-Century Art 20th-Century Art Contemporary Art Chinese Art Japanese Art Art of India Art in Southeast Asia AFRICAN ART Art of the Americas Art of Pacific Cultures Museums & Galleries Prints & Photographs Research Resources Various & Miscellaneous Enter your search terms Submit search form Web witcombe.sbc.edu ewart.sbc.edu www.sbc.edu THE ARTS OF AFRICA Top of Page African Art (through ArtLex) Introduction to African Art and Architecture (Professor Henry Drewal) Looking At and Seeing African Art African Artists and Aesthetics Saharan Rock Art Southern African Rock Art Nok Art Igbo-Ukwu Ife Benin Textiles and Personal Arts I Textiles and Personal Arts II Architecture ContemporaryArts Africa 8000 B.C. - 1600 A.D. (through the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Timeline of Art History) 8000 - 2000 B.C., with links to Western North Africa Egypt, with additional links to An abridged list of rulers in ancient Egypt and Nubia Old Kingdom (ca. 2649 - 2150 B.C.) Middle Kingdom (ca. 2030 - 1640 B.C.) Sudan 2000 - 1000 B.C., with links to Egypt, with an additional link to New Kingdom (ca. 1550 - 1070 B.C.) Sudan 1000 B.C. - 1 A.D., with links to Egypt, with additional links to Late Period (ca. 712 - 332 B.C.) Sudan Inland Niger Delta Nok Terracottas (500 B.C. - 200 A.D.) Ife (from ca. 350 B.C.) Pre-Pavement and Pavement Era Terracottas 1 - 500 A.D., with links to Egypt Sudan Western North Africa Nok Terracottas (500 B.C. - 200 A.D.) Aksum (1st - 7th century A.D.) 500 - 1000 A.D., with links to Egypt Western North Africa (The Maghrib) Western Sudan Guinea Coast Eastern and Southern Africa 1000 - 1400 A.D., with links to Egypt Western North Africa (The Maghrib) Western Sudan Guinea Coast Eastern and Southern Africa Mapungubwe (ca. 1050 - 1270 A.D.) Great Zimbabwe (11th - 15th century A.D.) 1400 - 1600 A.D. Egypt The Art of the Mamluk Period (1250 - 1517 A.D.) Western North Africa (The Maghrib) Central Africa Western Sudan Guinea Coast Eastern and Southern Africa African Art: Special Topics (through the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Timeline of Art History) The Age of Exploration: Early Encounters Benin Chronology The Central Zone African Christianity in Ethiopia African Christianity in Kongo The Fulani/Fulbe People The Art of Fulani/Fulbe People Igbo-Ukwu (ca. 9th century A.D.) The Age of Iron Trade and the Spread of Islam Afro-Portuguese Ivories African Lost-Wax Casting Bronze, Copper, and Brass The Tada Figure Lydenburg Heads (ca. 500 A.D.) The Trans-Saharan Gold Trade (7th - 14th century) Gold of Africa Museum, Cape Town, South Africa Africa (at the British Museum) The Sainsbury African Galleries Masquerade Pottery Woodcarving Textiles Personal Adornment Sculpture Textiles Graphic Arts Ancient Egypt, with a link to Later Egypt Money African Art in the Ethnological Missionary Museum in the Vatican (through The Holy See, The Vatican) Western Igbo: Agbogho monnwu helmet face mask Mende: Bundu helmet mask of the Sande female society Equatorial Luba: Mask of the kifwebe type Royal Museum for Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium African Art (at The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri) African Sculptural Art (African Votive Sculpture), papers by Herbert E. Roese, with links to The Indigenous Sculptural Arts of South Africa in Perspective Interpreting African Sculpture Two Unusual Wood Sculptures from Ghana Modern Sculptures from Zimbabwe Miniature Sculptures from Africa Modern African Art: A Basic Reading List compiled by Janet L. Stanley, National Museum of African Art Library, Smithsonian Institution Libraries Art and Life in Africa Online, with links to: Key Moments in Life The Chronology of African Art (Professor Christopher D. Roy) Introduction: Diffusion and other Problems in the History of African States (Professor James Giblin) Issues in African History (Professor James Giblin) Africa-related images, including Ancient Egypt (African Studies, University of Pennsylvania), including African Sculpture Wooden Mask, Mali Standing Female Figure, Burkina Faso Wooden Mask, Liberia/Guinea Wooden Door, Ivory Coast Mask with Iron and Wood, Ivory Coast Gold Shield, Ivory Coast Wooden Mask, Nigeria Ivory Figure, Nigeria Wooden Mask with antelope skin, Nigeria Wooden Mask, Nigeria Standing Male Figure, Nigeria Female Bust, Nigeria Alligator Head, Nigeria Wooden Mask with feathers, Gabon Wooden Figure, Gabon Standing Male Figure 1, with nails, Zaire Standing Male Figure 2, with blades, Zaire Wooden Staff, Zaire Wooden Mask with raffia, Zaire Wooden Mask, Zaire Wooden Mask with beads, Zaire Wooden Mask, Zaire Wooden Stool, Zaire Seated Female Figure, Zaire Wooden Doll, Botswana Ancient Africa (through Images from History), with links to: Kingdoms of Kerma and Punt (26-12th c. B.C.) Formative and Classic Kemet (31st -16th c. B.C.) Post-Classic Kemet: 2nd Int. Period and Empire (18-11th c. B.C.) Hellenistic and Coptic Egypt (3rd c. B.C. - 7th c. A.D.) Kingdom of Napata (circa 9th - 4th c. B.C.) Ancient Sudan: Kingdom of Meroë (4th c. B.C. - 325 A.D.) Ancient Horn of Africa: Axum (4th - 7th c. A.D.) Ancient Sudan: Nubia (Ibrahim Omer) Empires of the Western Sudan (through the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Timeline of Art History) Ghana Empire Mali Empire Songhai Empire Explore the Collection of African Art in the National Museum of African Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC The Diversity of African Art The Uses of African Art Imagery in African Art African Art in the Collection of the Historical Museum of Abomey in the Republic of Benin, with links to The Amazons Bas-reliefs Appliquéd cloth or hangings The Assen Staffs of the kings of Danhomé Bronzes from Ife and Benin (through Galerie Peter Herrmann) The Art of Africa, links and images, through Mike Gunther's Timelines of Art History: The World Le Masque au Burkina Faso (through Conseil International des Musées) African Art (through Mark Harden's Artchive) African Art in the collection of the Allen Memorial Art Museum, Oberlin, Ohio African Art in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas Africa: The Art of a Continent (Guggenheim Museum, New York), with a link to a A Clickable Map of the Art of the Africa Continent, with further links to: Eastern Africa Ancient Egypt and Nubia Sahel and Savanna Northern Africa Southern Africa Central Africa Sub-Saharan African Art: Introduction (at the Michael C. Carlos Museum, Emory University) Africa, Oceania and Native American Art in The Minneapolis Institute of Arts African Art (in The George Ortiz Collection) Great Zimbabwe (four photographs) Mystery of Great Zimbabwe (Peter Tyson, PBS Nova Online), plus an investigation of the site Great Zimbabwe National Park, Zimbabwe (photographs by Tom Loos) Riddle of Great Zimbabwe (abstract of article by Roderick J. McIntosh in Archaeology magazine) Art of the Kwele of Equatorial Africa: ancestor masks, bush spirit masks (by Louis Perrois, through Tribal Arts) Ashanti Gold Weights (through Michael Greenhalgh's ArtServe at The Australian National University) African Sculpture (through Mark Harden's Artchive) The British and the Benin Bronzes, text only (through African Reparations Movement) African Art: Aesthetics and Meaning (Exhibition, Bayly Art Museum, University of Virginia), with links to: Introduction Elements of African Aesthetic The Exhibition African Lost-Wax Casting (through the Metropolitan Museum of Art's Timeline of Art History) Bronze, Copper, and Brass The Tada Figure Akan Symbols Project (Dr. George F. Kojo Arthur and Prof. Robert Rowe) Introduction Architecture Metal Casting Gold Weights - Abrammoo Jewelry Swords - Akofena Goldweights as Proverbs Textiles Adinkra Cloths Kente Cloths Kente Coths & Motifs Factory-Made Wax and Non-Wax Prints Asafo Flags Akan Akunintam (Royal Akan Cloth) Akan Cosmology Wood Carvings Adwa (stools) Furniture and Door Symbols Combs and Dolls Umbrella Finials Okyeame Poma (Linguist's Staff) and Abusua Poma (Family Staff) Kente Cloth (through AfricaWithin.com) African Textiles Africana Collection (University of Florida) Nowo or Zogbe Mask West African textile patterns Ratton Masks Zulu Beadwork (Stan Schoeman), with links to The Zulu Nation in South Africa A Brief Historical Review Of Traditional African Beadwork in Africa, South of the Sahara Beadwork in the Zulu Cultural Tradition Traditional Necklaces Adornment of the head Adornment of the chest, waist and lower body Adornment of the limbs Items worn by Izangoma (specialists in traditional magic) Beaded Slendor: Migration of Beadmaking and Beadwork throughout Africa, with links to essays History, Trade, and Beadworking Techniques Royal Arts among the Yoruba, Bamum, and Kuba Adornment among the Topotha, Maasai, and Ndebele African Beadwork Today Images Bibliography Hamill Gallery of African Art (commercial) Traditionelle afrikanische kunst (at Galerie Peter Herrmann) Africa (Professor Ron Johnson), with a map of Map of Contemporary Africa Maasai - Kenya & Tanzania Warrior Near Ngorogoro, plus a detail Maasai Woman, Ngorogoro Maasai Woman, Ngorogoro Maasai Bride with Bead Dance Necklace Necklaces & Ear Ornaments, National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Maasai Jumping Dance, Ngorogoro Burundi Map of Burundi Coiled Basket Women Carrying Baskets & Wearing Kangas Market Baskets, bamboo Tutsi Basket with conical lid 20th c., Fogg Art Museum, Cambridge House of Drums at Gishora Leaping Drummers of Gishora Drummers of Gishora Chief of Gishora Drummers Pygmies - Democratic Republic of Congo Welcome to Pygmy Village Pygmy Chief with Rattles and Spirit of the Forest Gourd Pygmy Chief Examining a Camera Ancient Sudan - Fraras & Kerma (Kush) Ancient Egypt / Sudan Map. Nile Valley Egyptian 18th Dynasty Nubians Bringing Luxury Items Faras A Group Eggshell Ware Fingerprint Patterns, 3000 B.C., British Museum Faras Group A Eggshell Ceramic Bowl, 3100-2800 B.C., Boston Museum of Fine Arts Classic Kerma Tulip Beaker and Spouted Pot Kerma Black Polished Bowl with Incised White-filled Decoration Kerma Carnelian Bead Necklace Gilded Ivory & Copper Fly, 2000-1500 B.C., Boston Museum of Fine Arts Pan Grave Culture Painted Cow Skull, 2200-1700 B.C., Boston Museum of Fine Arts Kerma.  Eastern view of Duffufa Kerma Reconstructed Burial bed Faience Hippopotamus, 1600-1500 B.C., Boston Museum of Fine Arts Kerma Hippopotamus Goddess Taweret Kerma Ibex & Bustard Sphinx of Tahargo Statuette of a Nubian Woman Nok - Nigeria 900 B.C. - 200 A.D. Map of the Ancient Civilizations of Nigeria Theoretical Diagram of a Nok Temple with Statues Katsina style Seated Male Figure, 500 B.C. - 500 A.D. Large Male Statue, 150 B.C. Jenne Amulet Statuette, 1470 A.D. Nok Head Female Terracotta Fragment Terracotta Heads with Snake and Harvest Scenes, Louvre, Paris Ife - Nigeria 500 A.D. - 1600 A.D. Obalufon Mask, bronze, 11th-12thc. Idealized Bronze Head of an Oni Scarification Patterns of a Nigerian Man Small Oni Bronze, 14-15thc. Bronze Staff of a Bound Man Recent Oni of Ife Wearing Beaded Crown Portrait of an Oni, 12th to 16th century, British Museum, London Benin - Nigeria 1350 A.D. - 1897 A.D. Dutch Print of 1668 of Oba in Annual Procession Bronze Box of the Palace with Royal Ibis & Python, Berlin Python Head from Royal Palace, bronze, Berlin Portuguese Soldier, bronze, Phoebe Hearst Museum, U.C. Berkeley Royal Ivory Leopard, British Museum, London, and detail Oba Akenzua II Seated with Altar to his Hand & to previous Oba Oba Adolo Altar with Elephant Tusks & Bronze Heads Male Head, bronze (probably an Oba), 15th - 16th c. Head of an Oba, bronze, 18th c., National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Chief Osuma in Pangolin Chief's Regalia with Pectoral Mask & Ceremonial Sword Ivory Pectoral Mask, British Museum, London Bronze Plaque of Oba, British Museum, London A helmet mask (ododua), mid-18th c., British Museum, London Yoruba Map of Yorubaland Diagram of Key Elements of the Yoruba Cosmos Priest of Esu/Elegba Dancing Esu Image as Worn Upside Down When Danced Esu Dance Vestment, Phoebe Hearst Museum, U.C. Berkeley Esu Dance Staff, wood, beads, etc. Esu Dance Staff, Boston Museum of Fine Arts Esu, wood, British Museum, London Esu, cowry shells, U.C.L.A. Esu, wood, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Esu, Held by the Arugba Esu Shrine of the Elemoso Ifa Divination Board, wood, National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Babalawo Kolawole Ositola Beginning Divination with the Cross Road Sign Ifa Imori Divination Ifa Divining Board, Tapper, & Kola Nuts, Phoebe Hearst Museum, U.C. Berkeley Ifa Divining Tapper, Ivory, U.C.L.A. Ifa Divining Tappers, Ivory & Iron, U.C.L.A. Queen Victoria, wood, U.C.L.A. Ifa divination materials container, Phoebe Hearst Museum, U.C. Berkeley Ibeji, Woman in Her Seventies with Ibeji Brother, 1970 Mother of Twins Dancing Ibeji, King of Oyo, wood with beaded vest, Phoebe Hearst Museum, U.C. Berkeley Ibeji with Protective Birds, Oyo, wood with beaded vest, National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Senior Thunder God Priest Ibeji with Sango Beaded Vest, U.C.L.A. Ibeji in Cowry Shell Vest, U.C.L.A. Ibeji, Ron Johnson collection Ibeji, U.C.L.A. Gelede Dancer with mask with two snakes devouring antelopes, 1971 Gelede Mask with pigs Gelede Mask with a drummer, 20th c., Stanford Igbo - Nigeria Mbari House, Sacred Side, near Owerri Installation of Dinner Plates in Mbari House Modeling of Mbari Figures in Termite Clay or Yam Scapegoat Figure of Mbari House or Ugly Child Ala (Earth Goddess) Amadioha (Thunder God) & His Wife Secular Side of Mbari House with Childbirth Scene Okpangu & Scene of Leopard Attacking a Goat Asanta - Ghana Asantehene with the Golden Stool in Asipim Chair Asante Carver Finishing a Stool, Carving Workshop, Aharvi Eight Black Stools of State Two Asipim Chairs Gold Weighing Equipment Gold Weights Gold Dust Boxes Lions, gold, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York Linguists with Their Staffs Linguist’s Staff, Wiseman’s Knot Ceremonial Sword with Proverbial Figures University of Iowa Gold Soul Disk Grave of Atawazudi, died 1969 Kente Cloth gold dust pattern Kente Cloth Red Flowers Pattern, National Museum, Accra Kente Cloth, Otan Wo, National Museum, Accra Kente Cloth, National Museum, Accra Man & Six Wives Walking to a Funeral, National Museum, Accra Akua'ba wood, National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Asante, Besease Shrine, Priest Side and Side for Singers, Ghana Asante, Besease Shrine, Two Roosters & Ram Designs, begun 1850 Asante, Besease Shrine, Wisdom Tree with Three Tortoises, Shrine Emblems Asante, Besease Shrine, Altar Side with Sheep Backbone Sacrifices Asante, Besease Shrine, Side with Talking Drums Asante, Bonwire, Kente Cloth Cooperative Asante, Bonwire, Kente Cloth Weaver Asante, Ntonso, Pounding Bark for Adinkra Cloth Dye Asante, Ntonso, Cooked Tree Bark for Adinkra Cloth Dye Asante, Ntonso, Applying Dye with a Comb to Adinkra Cloth Asante, Ntonso, Adinkra Cloth Dye Stamps Asante, Ntonso,Cotton Adinkra Cloth Drying Damango, Northern Village, Typical Round Houses Damango, Storage Houses Damango, Women pounding Cassava Larabanga Mosque Mystic Stone, 1468 Larabanga Mosque Front Men's Entrance, 1468 Larabanga Mosque Women's Entrance, 1468 Transporting Slaves to a Port or Market, Lithograph, 1790 Fort-Prison of St. George, Elmina, 1482 Fort-Prison of St. George, Elmina, Women's Cells, 1482 Fort-Prison of St. George, Elmina, Women's Cells and Ball and Chain, 1482 Diagram of Slave Ship Brookes, 18th Century Shipboard Slave Revolt, painting, 1851 Large Dugout Canoes in Process, Axim Boats and Harbor, Elmina Elmina Boats Small Ebony Dugout Canoe, Ensima Bamana - Mali Boli, mixed media, Musée de l'homme, Paris N'tomo Society, wood, seeds, cowry shells, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York N'tomo Society, wood, National Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Komo Society, wood, quills, mud, Metropolitan Museum of Art, N.Y. Chi Wara Dancers in the Big Field, wood, raffia Chi Wara Headdress, wood Chi Wara Headdresses, wood, Art Institute, Chicago Roan Chi Wara Headdress, wood, de Menil Collection, Houston Roan Chi Wara Headdress, wood, Museum of Primitive Art, New York Chi Wara Headdresses, wood, National Museum of Museum of African Art, Washington, D.C. Chi Wara Headdress, wood, National Museum Of African Art, Washington, D.C. Chi Wara Headdress, wood, Brooklyn Museum of Art Senufo - Ivory coast Firespitter Mask Firespitter Mask wood, Art Institute, Chicago Tyekpa Society Funerary Figures for Mother of Tyekpa Hornbill, Bird of the poro helmet mask, painted wood, University of Iowa, Iowa City Leopard Transformation Costumes Ox Nasolo in the Sacred Grove Bobo - Upper Volta Leaf Costume for purification rites and spirit of Do Bur - Burkina Faso Hawk Mask, Stanford Art Museum, Palo Alto Kuba - Democratic Republic of Congo Kuba King Kot a Mbweeky III Wodaabe - Niger Wodaabe woman with facial scarification and jewelry Woman Donning Jewelry for Geerewol Ceremony Woman Decorating a Calabash with Protective Design Women in Finest Attire Looking at Calabash Displays Male Geerewol Dancers in Ostrich Plumes With Women Judges Male Geerewol Dancer Applying Makeup Male Geerewol Dancer Showing Teeth and Eye Movements Male Geerewol Dancers Showing Charm Male Geerewol Dancers Dancing with Ostrich Plume Headdresses Male Leather Talisman Diagram Male Leather Talisman To Repel Bad Luck Makonde - Tanzania Makonde Helmet Mask, Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco Luba - Democratic Republic of Congo Female Power Figure with Snail Shells, Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Richmond Kongo - Congo Power figure Mbumba Maza, Musée de l'homme, Paris Nail Power Figure, Naoki, wood, nails, mirror, etc., Phoebe Hearst Museum, U.C. Berkeley Nail Oath-Taking Image, Nkisi n'kondi, De Young Museum, San Francisco Power figure, 19th c., Munich Two headed Power figure of a Dog, wood, nails, 19th c., Berlin Another view of Two headed Power figure of a Dog, wood, nails, 19th c., Berlin Leopard Claw Bonnet, Lisbon Kongo - Democratic Republic of Congo Power Figure, wood, cloth, gun powder, etc., University of Iowa, Iowa City Songye - Democratic Republic of Congo Power Figure, 19th c., Berlin Pende - Democratic Republic of congo Mbangu Face Mask, Horniman Museum, London Woyo - Angol Power Figures (Nkisi), Lisbon Yombe - Angola Power Figure, Nkisi, Lisbon Lumbo - West Congo Power Figure, horn, wood, metal, beads, etc., Musée de l'homme, Paris Vili - Congo Power Figure of a Standing Man, cloth, wood, etc., Berlin African-American - New York Protective Household Fetishes, Museum of Natural History, New York Masango - Gabon Reliquary Figure with Basket of Bones, Los Angeles County Museum of Art, Los Angeles Shake - Gabon Bwitti Cult Figure, brass, wood, copper, Museum of Primitive Art, New York Kota - Gabon Bwitti Bronze Image, New Orleans Museum of Art African Art: Historical Photographs G. I. Jones Photographic Archive of Southeastern Nigerian Art and Culture, with liks to Index to Ibibio, Ijo and Ogoni Ibibio Two masquerades from Uzuakoli Mask with hinged jaw Mask at Ikot Abia (Ikot Ekpene area) Otoro Ibibio Tripod Drum Child's doll Ikem Masquerade Ikem Masquerade Ikem Masquerade Ikem Masquerade Ogoni Antelope Mask Antelope Mask Antelope Mask Ijaw Maskfrom Owu Masquerade Mask from Brass District Central Ijaw Headpiece Kalabari Mask Kalabari stool Cultural Igbo, near Forcados Mask, Nembi, Brass District Owu (Water Spirit) Mask, Nembi, Brass District Index to Ika Igbo (Western Igbo) Ofo, uxurhe and other pieces [includes Ikenga], North Ika Carved wooden shrine object, North Ika, Asaba village Carved wooden shrine object, South Ika, Aboh town Carved wooden figure, North Ika, stray Yoruba influence Ogonya Play, Ogume Village, South Ika bordering Isoko Edo Figure of chief, North Ika Mud figures of Chief and Attendants and Commissioner of Police, North Ika Decorated pot, North Ika Decorated pots, North Ika Feathered Headdress, Ogonya Play, Ogume village, South Ika Ogene Mask, Ogonya Play, Ogume village, South Ika Ejukpe mask and other masks, Ogonya Play, Ogume village, South Ika Nwamno figure, Ogume village, South Ika Nwamno figure, Dance trophy, Ogume village, South Ika Okike, Ikenga and other shrines, North Ika Portable household shrine, North Ika Figure in an ancestral shrine, North Ika Uxurhe Staffs Drums and figures, North Ika Index to Nsukka and Nri/Awka Igbo Nsukka Igbo Masquerader in Nsukka Masquerader in Nsukka Masquerader in Nsukka Nri-Awka Igbo Ego Ago (money finish), Mmau Masquerade, Amuda village, Isu Ochi Awo Ohia, Mmau Masquerade, Amuda village, Isu Ochi Iro Ekpetu (Merciless), Mmau Masquerade, Amuda village, Isu Ochi Eju Onu (Long Mouth), Mmau Masquerade, Amuda village, Isu Ochi Nwabogho Ehi (heifer), Mmau Masquerade, Amuda village, Isi Ochi Obugula Mmau, daughter masks, Amuobia village Obugula Mmau, Amuobia village Obugula Mmau, Amuobia village Grandmother Mask, Obugula Mmau, Amuobia village Omuko (very old elder), Amuobia village Omuko (very old elder), Amuobia Ghost Police, Amuobia village Ghost Police, Amuobia village Ghost Police Sargent, Amuobia village Ghost Court Messengers, Amuobia village A mask called Government, Amuobia village Agu nechenyi (leopard/elephant), Amuobia village Anumbii (Horned Beast), Amuobia village Nwa Ekpo, boy's masquerade, Nimo Onu Kamma maskers (mouth stronger than sword), Nimo Onu Kamma masker (mouth stronger than sword), Nimo Mgbedike or Agu neche Enyi (leopard/elephant), Nimo Ogaranya (a powerful man), Nimo Ogbuseyolaho mask Onyeocha (white man) Carved wooden shrine object, North Ika, Asaba village Carved wooden shrine object, South Ika, Aboh town Carved wooden figure, North Ika, stray Yoruba influence Ogonya Play, Ogume Village, South Ika bordering Isoko Edo Figure of chief, North Ika Mud figures of Chief and Attendants and Commissioner of Police, North Ika Decorated pot, North Ika Decorated pots, North Ika Feathered Headdress, Ogonya Play, Ogume village, South Ika Ogene Mask, Ogonya Play, Ogume village, South Ika Ejukpe mask and other masks, Ogonya Play, Ogume village, South Ika Nwamno figure, Ogume village, South Ika Nwamno figure, Dance trophy, Ogume village, South Ika Okike, Ikenga and other shrines, North Ika Portable household shrine, North Ika Figure in an ancestral shrine, North Ika Uxurhe Staffs Drums and figures, North Ika Index to Ikwerri Igbo Mami Wata, Rumuji Owu Play Ogalanya (Shining and bright), Rumuji Owu Play Abbu (Tortoise), Rumuji Owu Play Egedu (Mudfish), Rumuji Owu Play Ebi (porcupine), Rumuji Owu Play Ebeule Uku (Water Ram, mythical beast), Rumuji Owu Play Carver of the masks, Preparing a mask for the Rumuji Owu Play Carver of the masks, Preparing a mask for the Rumuji Owu Play Abam (One who has visited places and learned things), Rumuji Owu Play Asaba, Rumuji Owu Play Asaba, Rumuji Owu Play Jack, Rumuji Owu Play Ajibodo, Head of Owu, Rumuji Owu Play The musicians accompaning the dance, Rumuji Owu Play Parade of Masks, Okerevinwe, Oweremba, Aka Leke, Adachinwa, Abam, Jack, Oyiaro, Oki (Rumuji Owu Play) Index to Abiriba Igbo Abiriba Igbo Modern female figure Modern male figure Mask Canoe with figures Ekpe (Igbo) head Boys masquerade, (Ibibio style mask) Mask Boy next to food bowl Tripod drum Ngbagba Ikoro Festival Two masks Small boys chorus Otiri Older woman touching Otiri Small girls touching Otiri Otiri A different Otiri Small girl's parade Small boy with Ajonku Clown mask Abiriba Obu Houses (meeting houses) figures in Obu figures in Obu, Amogudu, plus close-up 1 and close-up 2 Obu house Obu house Chief in Obu house Figures in Obu house, Female with pot on head, male with cutlass and trophy head Figures in Obu house, Woman with a baby. Above her a man with cutlass and trophy head Four Obu figures Carved pillars in Obu house figure of woman and baby Index to Nkporo Igbo A group of masks, Boys initiation, Obohia two masks, Boys initiation, Obohia two masks, Boys initiation, Obohia A group of masks, Boys initiation, Obohia A group of masks, Boys initiation, Obohia Mask, Boys initiation, Obohia Mask, Boys initiation, Obohia Mask, Boys initiation, Obohia Dancing masker, Boys initiation, Obohia Dancing masker, Boys initiation, Obohia Two Nwanyi Oma [beautiful women] with an attendant, Boys initiation, Elugu Nwanyi Oma [beautiful woman], Boys initiation, Elugu Ogu Mask, Boys initiation, Elugu Masquerade band, Boys initiation, Elugu Masquerade band, Boys initiation, Elugu Ofogu mask, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Two Ofogu? masks, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Ogbo (Clown) mask, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Ogbo (Clown) mask and masquerade band, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Two Ogwu Aba (singers), Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Nwanyi Oma (Beautiful Woman), Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Nwanyi Oma (Beautiful Woman), Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Ogwu Mask, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Okpa masquerade, the band, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Ofogu? mask, Boys initiation, Etiti Ama Calabash mask, Boys initiation Group leading masks, Boys initiation Initiation mask, Boys initiation Dancing initiation masks, Boys initiation Dancing initiation masks, Boys initiation Dancing intitiation mask, Boys initiation Index to Ohafia/Abam Igbo Okwanko masquerade, Akanu Ohafia Ote Iri mask Ote Iri mask Mask depicting a dibia (healer) Another mask depicting a dibia (healer) The dibia Obia revives another other dibia after their battle of medicine Another mask of the Okwanko group Carved figures in Obu, Asaga Ohafia Central figures Large ikoro (slit drum) Figures along the wall of the obu Figures along the wall of the obu Figures along the wall of the obu A male and female figure Shrine priest poses with in the obu Figures along the wall of the obu The Ohafia War Dance (iri agha) Ohafia war dancer with headboard (oyaya) Ohafia war dancer with headboard (oyaya) Shrines (arunsi) Arunsi shrine in Ohafia Ibudu arunsi in Ohafia Shrine at compound in Ohafia with ogirisi tree Arunsi near obu in Abam, and close-up Miscellaneous images from Ohafia Ancestor shrine (ifu mong) Ohafia post Christian grave with angel (Ohafia) Free standing figures in Ohafia village Obu house Index to Riverine Igbo (Ekpafia, Abua, Ekpeya) Ekpafia Igbo Aminikoro mask, Ogbukele festival Osu Mask, Ogbukele festival Osu Mask, Ogbukele festival Aminikoro mask, Ogbukele festival Eside Mask, Ogbukele festival Ekpekede, (the head mask) Ogbukele festival Ekpekede, (the head mask) Ogbukele festival A dancer, Ogbukele festival Iwolo mask, Ogbukele festival Elders in front of the obu (meeting house), Ogbukele festival Dancer, Ogbukele festival Ogbukele drum and Band, Ogbukele festival Obiri Jack mask, Ogbukele festival Obiri Jack mask (close-up), Ogbukele festival Abua Igbo Asele mask (beloved daughter), Ogbukele festival Edolia Village Oki mask, Ogbukele festival Edolia Village Ekpeya Igbo Ogbukere drum Ogbukere drum Owu mask Ogbukele mask Index to various Igbo groups: Ngusu Ada, Isu Ikwu Ato, Alayi, Item Ngusu Ada Igbo Ngusu Ada mask Ngusu Ada mask Ngusu Ada mask Ngusu Ada mask Two Ngusu Ada masks Ngusu Ada mask Ngusu Ada mask Ngusu Ada mask Two Ngusu Ada masks Obu Ngusu Ada (meeting house) Obu Ngusu Ada (meeting house) Isu Ikwu Ato Ajaiku masquerade, Ovim village Elder attending Ajouku masquerade, Ovim village Drummers for Ajouku masquerade, Ovim village Two masks, Parade of masks, Ajouku masquerade, Ovim village Alayi Igbo (Isu-Ikem) Lughielu Mask, Ugwu Eke village Mask (top missing), Ugwu Eke village Mask, Ugwu Eke village Mask, Ugwu Eke village Mask, Ugwu Eke village Mask, Ugwu Eke village Mask, Ugwu Eke village Item Igbo Lugbulu Mask, Man holding 'female' mask and 'comic male' mask Lugbulu Mask, Beautiful female mask Lugbulu Mask, Beautiful female mask Lugbulu Mask, Comic male mask Lugbulu Mask, Comic male flanked by heads of a pig and a dog Lugbulu Mask, Comic male mask Index to Ekpe Masquerades Modern Ekpe (Igbo) head piece. Ekpe (Igbo) head, representing an elephant (Ndokki) Ekpe (Igbo) mask, Ubakala Five Ekpe (Igbo) masks, Ubakala Skin covered head, Calabar/Creek Town Skin covered head with two opposing faces, Uzuakoli Two skin covered heads, Uzuakoli Ekpe (Egbo) or Ikem, Uzuakoli Skin covered head Ekpe (Egbo) head Ekpe (Egbo) Runner [Okonko], Umuahia Ekpe (Egbo) Runner [Okonko], Uzuakoli Ekpe (Egbo) Runner, Uzuakoli Ekpe (Egbo) Runner [Okonko], Umuahia Index to Igbo music, shrines, architecture and other cultural artifacts Igbo Musicians Band playing for Mmau Masquerade, Amuda village, Isu Ochi Xylophone with two players, three small drums and two basket shakers, Amuda Village, Isu Ochi Band playing in Northern Igboland Band playing in Northern Igboland Band playing in Northern Igboland Some Ikoro (slit drums) Male carving at one end of large ikoro drum, Ohafia Female carving at other end of large ikoro drum, Ohafia small ikoro drum, Ohafia Ufie drum, Southern Ikwerri Alusi or Arunsi (shrines) Alusi priest in his shrine Alusi Nri-Awka Alusi Ibudu, Orlu Juju to protect crops, Orlu Alusi, Tutelary and fertility juju, Ishieke, Isu Alusi, Tutelary and fertility juju -- detail, Ishieke, Isu Alusi, Tutelary and fertility juju -- detail, Ishieke, Isu Ibudu, Mud shrine made to protect and prosper a household Pyramids, Nsude village shrine, Abaja, Northern Igbo Jones posing in front of pyramid, Nsude village shrine, Abaja, Northern Igbo Alusi, With Ikenga and other ritual objects, Orsu, West Isuama Igbo Alusi, The same shrine with its priest (seated) and it's osu (juju slave), Orsu, West Isuama Igbo Alusi, With its priest and its ritual iron belled staff, Orsu, West Isuama Igbo Alusi, Orsu, West Isuama Igbo Alusi, Orsu, West Isuama Igbo Alusi, Nri-Awka Igbo One of a group of Alusi figures, Nri-Awka Igbo Alusi, Several of the same group of Alusi figures Alusi, Shrine of a tutelary deity Alusi, Figure in another shrine, plus another view above the shrine, Obioma town, Abaja, Northern Igbo Ikenga Ikenga, Nri-Awka Igbo Ikenga, Amobia, Nri-Awka Igbo Ikenga, Nimo, Nri-Awka Igbo Three Ikenga, Nimo, Nri-Awka Igbo Ikenga, Achalla, Nri-Awka Igbo, plus another view of the same, Nri-Awka Igbo Ikenga, Nimo, Nri-Awka Igbo Two Ikenga, Nri-Awka Igbo Ikenga?, Nri-Awka Igbo Wood carver, Carving Ikenga Agwu Nsi Figures Agwu Nsi figures, (Dibia) Nri-Awka Igbo Agwu Nsi figures, (Dibia) Nri-Awka Igbo Agwu Nsi figure, (Dibia) Nri-Awka Igbo Ceremonial bowls (okwa) Okwa Nzu, Abiriba Igbo Okwa Nzu, Abiriba Igbo Okwa Nzu, Abiriba Igbo Okwa Nzu, Item Igbo Ceremonial food bowls Okwa , Ezza Igbo Okwa, Ezza Igbo Okwa Okwa, Unknown provenence ? Other Igbo cultural items Wari board (game) Calabash containers with basketry coverings House in Owerri, Figure of a motor transport magnate and symbols of his (hourse) power A small boy with his doll, Son of the court clerk of Eza Court House under construction House under construction (southern Igbo) House with inset plates South Ikwerri Interior of house with plates inset in walls South Ikwerri House with carved panels Nri-Awka Train juju Interior of the house of the train juju (alusi) showing the engine Train juju Nike, Enugu, and a detail Woman with baby Awka stool, Amobia village, Nri-Awka Early stage in Carving a stool, Amobia village, Nri-Awka, and later stage in carving process, Amobia village, Nri-Awka Another type of stool, Amobia village, Nri-Awka Wood carver, Making a lidded bowl Bottles carved out of wood, In the shape of local clay pots Child with modern carvings, A woman, leopard and policeman, Nri-Awka Top of Page THIS PAGE The Arts of Africa Akan Adinkra Adire Asanti Baule Bedu Benin Gelede Ife Igbo Ndebele Nok Yoruba Zulu © Christopher L. 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