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HOME :
African & Tribal Art :
Igbo, Urhobo : Igbo Sculpture of a Soldier
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Igbo Sculpture of a Soldier - LSO.226
Origin: West Africa
Circa: 1900
AD
to 1940
AD
Dimensions:
24.6" (62.5cm) high
Collection: African Art
Additional Information: Hong Kong
£9,000.00
Location: Great Britain
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| Description |
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The current piece is unusual as it seems to be a
secular piece – namely, an observation of something
that lay outside the standard repertoire of artistic
subjects, or possibly even a portrait. Depicting an
individual wearing military uniform, the character
displays characteristics of both native and colonial
cultures. The face is scarred, but the skin is whitened
with kaolin – which often occurs in Igbo sculpture –
but which may have assumed a new layer of meaning
in the current case. The uniform closely resembles
that of native soldiery attached to the British Army,
with shorts, matching shirt with a V-collar, shoes,
and a tall hat. Unusually, the shirt bears three
chevrons on each sleeve, which – assuming it refers
to the British military rank system – implies that the
person depicted is a sergeant. The right hand is
damaged, but wears an unmistakable groove which
denotes that he was originally carrying something.
The orientation of the groove is near vertical, which
suggests that it might have been a flag, rather than a
gun, which was originally held. It is impossible to
date this figure with certainty, but the fact that the
sculptor saw fit to carve it seems to suggest that it
was sufficiently new and unusual to merit artistic
attention.
The Igbo (Ibo) of the Northern Niger River Delta are
one of the largest and most important tribal groups
in West Africa. They are culturally highly complex,
with a political system based upon a loose form of
chiefdom/kingship in some areas, and a democratic
panel of decision-makers in others. Social life was
usually governed by a number of secret societies.
Their main god is Chukwu (literally “Great Spirit”),
the creator of the world, who is also linked to the sun
and all that grows and lives. Social conduct is
governed by Ogu-na-Ofo, spirits who defend the
innocent against unjust charges. If a guilty person
appeals to them for help, they will be cursed by
Amadioha (the god of thunder and lightning). There
are numerous other gods that deal with issues as
diverse as Ahia Njoku (yams) to Ikenga (fortune and
industry) and Agwu (medicine men). Each person
has a god named Chi, which is essentially an
embodiment of a person’s fate.
The Igbo are known for their artistic diversity, due to
the wide range of environments and local histories to
which their culture is exposed. Standard sculpture
includes Alusi figures – large, public figures designed
to embody the spirits of significant gods – and also
Ikenga figures, which are kept on personal altars in
private homes.
This is a fascinating and beautifully-executed
sculpture from a dynamic period in Nigerian history.
- (LSO.226)
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