Ariwajoye I
Yoruba, Nigeria
1977
(Photo from A History of Art in Africa)
Ariwajoye I is the king and ruler of Ila-Orangun. The king is a powerful figure, which can be concluded by simply looking at him. He is wearing a robe, consisting of very intricate bead embroidery; this is usually reserved for the oba. There is a beaded veil covered his face, which prevents the king to be seen by ordinary people. The king is being modified or changed when this veil is worn. His outer head is covered while his inner head becomes one with power. The veil is a symbol of kingship and can only be worn by kings who have some relation to the boa, an African ruler or king. There is a cushion placed beneath the kings feet so they can be elevated, which symbolizes "above the earth.”[1]
[1] Monica Blackmun Visona, Robin Poynor, and Herbert M. Cole: A History of Art in Africa 2nd Edition (Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008, 239.
1977
(Photo from A History of Art in Africa)
Ariwajoye I is the king and ruler of Ila-Orangun. The king is a powerful figure, which can be concluded by simply looking at him. He is wearing a robe, consisting of very intricate bead embroidery; this is usually reserved for the oba. There is a beaded veil covered his face, which prevents the king to be seen by ordinary people. The king is being modified or changed when this veil is worn. His outer head is covered while his inner head becomes one with power. The veil is a symbol of kingship and can only be worn by kings who have some relation to the boa, an African ruler or king. There is a cushion placed beneath the kings feet so they can be elevated, which symbolizes "above the earth.”[1]
[1] Monica Blackmun Visona, Robin Poynor, and Herbert M. Cole: A History of Art in Africa 2nd Edition (Upper Saddle River, N.J: Pearson/Prentice Hall, 2008, 239.
Egungun Mask
Yoruba, Nigeria
20th Century
Cotton, velvet, silk, wool
(Photo from Indianapolis Museum of Art)
Egungun, meaning "powers concealed," is a masquerade associated with the honoring of ancestors. It is believed that everyone has the ability and power to communicate with those who have passed, so it is an important link between the worlds of the living and the dead. The maskers appear at annual festivals and funerals. Two of their responsibilities are to console loved ones and to mediate between the two worlds. There is also an element of entertainment and social commentary as the Egungun uses exaggerated acting and miming to spiritually clean the community. It demonstrates ethical and amoral behavior that was presented since the last visit in order to strengthen the community by encouraging behavior. The Egungun masker is covered with many layers of cloth panels. The outer panels are added every year with expensive, imported cloth.[1]
[1] Molefi K. Asante, Ama Mazama, Encyclopedia of African Religion: Volume 1 (London:SAGE Publications, Inc., 2009).
20th Century
Cotton, velvet, silk, wool
(Photo from Indianapolis Museum of Art)
Egungun, meaning "powers concealed," is a masquerade associated with the honoring of ancestors. It is believed that everyone has the ability and power to communicate with those who have passed, so it is an important link between the worlds of the living and the dead. The maskers appear at annual festivals and funerals. Two of their responsibilities are to console loved ones and to mediate between the two worlds. There is also an element of entertainment and social commentary as the Egungun uses exaggerated acting and miming to spiritually clean the community. It demonstrates ethical and amoral behavior that was presented since the last visit in order to strengthen the community by encouraging behavior. The Egungun masker is covered with many layers of cloth panels. The outer panels are added every year with expensive, imported cloth.[1]
[1] Molefi K. Asante, Ama Mazama, Encyclopedia of African Religion: Volume 1 (London:SAGE Publications, Inc., 2009).