The Yoruba are the largest of all the sculpture
producing tribes of Africa. Besides a great variety
of local cults, Yoruba religion and art are
characterized by a number of universal cults of
major deities who began as nature gods. People
of ancient Nigeria built shrines to worship these
gods, and the shrines were elaborately decorated
and furnished with various sculptural objects.
This beautiful wood carving of a woman carrying
a bowl is a fine example of such shrine
sculptures. It is called the Arugba sculpture,
which means "bowl carrier". Such bowls usually
contained symbolic objects such as Neolithic
celts or sacred palm nuts that were used in rituals
and rites. This wooden sculpture portrays a
female figure in kneeling position, with a bowl on
her head. Two decorated columns also support
the bowl, while the female figure holds onto the
columns. Skillfully carved, the voluptuous
femininity and decorations, such as the facial
scarification, are accentuated to create visual
aesthetics as well as functional quality. A portion
of a clasp on the bowl also indicates that it once
had a lid attached to it. As we look at this
beautiful sculpture that once contained magical
substances, we are taking a glimpse of the
ancient shrine that was filled with spiritual power.
- (PF.3269)
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