The Urhobo are one of a number of tribal groups living in the Niger River Delta area, and make their living from mixed agriculture and fishing. They live in small villages which are focused around huts containing ancestor figures which watch over the population and “preside” at meetings of elders. The Urhobo live in tentative respect of forest spirits known as Edjo, which surround them at all times and are appeased by the carving of Edjo sculptures. Smaller figures in the same general style are usually considered to represent Edjo’s spouses. The two sculpture classes can be differentiated by the fact that Edjo figures carry weapons or magical containers, while ancestors are usually represented as seated or Janus figures. The style of rendering is akin to that of the Igbo, to whom the Urhobo are culturally related. Other related tribes include the Oron and the Isoko.

There is considerable stylistic overlap between the two figure types, and there are also many unique pieces (such as this one). Edjo spouses are generally somewhat smaller than this pice, but the obvious gender of the piece makes it likely to be an extraordinary – and therefore rare –example of this group. It is certainly a beautifully-rendered and sophisticated piece of African art.