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Yoruba Figure with Three Faces 22″ – Nigeria – African Art

$175.00

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This Yoruba figure was carved in the shape of a unique Shango wand that has three faces. The wand comes attached to a custom base and measures 22 inches tall, weighing 3.5 pounds. This piece would make an excellent addition to any home or collection.

Type of Object

Figure, statue

Country of Origin

Nigeria

Ethnicity

Yoruba

Material

Wood, Pigment

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height

22"

Width

7"

Depth

4"

Weight

3.5 lbs

Overall Condition

Good condition with imperfections and wear and tear.

Tribe Information

About the Yoruba People

The Yoruba are the largest cultural group on the African continent, with nearly 40 million people. The word ‘Yoruba’ describes both the language and a tribe living across Nigeria and the Popular Republic of Benin, in an area of forest and savannah.

Geography
The Yoruba people’s primary living space is South-West Nigeria with substantial Yoruba communities in Benin, Togo and Sierra Leone but they are not bound by state or country borders. This area is often referred to as “Yorubaland”. Most of the terrain is either forest, woodland savannah, rich farmland or coastal swamps and lagoons.

History
The origin of the Yoruba people in Nigeria is heavily debated. Some believe they came from the east in Mecca, some say from the north in Egypt. Evidence shows that ethnically, Yoruba’s have been in the area known as Yorubaland since the 7th century BC. Scholars believe the area was probably inhabited earlier by peoples of the Nok culture. Yorubaland covers the modern-day countries of Nigeria, Togo and Benin. The term Yoruba to describe ethnicity, did not come about until the 16th century and wasn’t widely used until the 19th century. Before then, the Yoruba people were known by many names depending on who was acknowledging them. For instance, the Europeans referred to them as Akú, whereas in Cuba, they were referred to as O luku mi.

Read more about the Yoruba here.

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Additional Information

About the Ose Sango

“The name Sango allegedly belonged to the fourth Yoruba king who was deified and became associated with thunder, symbolized by a double-axe motif on the head of the sculptures associated with his cult. During annual Sango cult ceremonies, women devotees sing and dance holding the Ose Sango (dance wand).”
The Shango staff usually consist of three sections--a handle, a female figure and a superstructure depicting two stone axes. Her nudity and kneeling pose suggest humility before a deity in a ritual setting. Associated with virility, masculinity, fire, lightning, stones, oyo warriors and magnetism. Shango is said to have the abilities to transform base substances into those that are pure and valuable. Shango is the Yoruba orisha (“god”) of thunder and lighting. Historically, Shango is a royal ancestor of the Yoruba as he was the third Alafin (king) of the Oyo Kingdom prior to his posthumous deification.He reigned for seven years which were marked by his continuous campaigns and many battles. However, his reign ended due his inadvertent destruction of his palace by lightning. It is believed In Yoruba mythology that Shango committed suicide by hanging himself in order to avoid humiliation from one of his powerful chiefs who ordered Shango to vacate his throne or face war.