Yoruba Zoomorphic Shrine African Figure 13″ – Nigeria

$150.00

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An attractive and sturdy zoomorphic shrine piece made by the Yoruba people of Nigeria. This item features a ram like creature with curved horns and gorgeous intricately carved striations. The back of piece has been intentionally split, though there are some cracks to the base of the piece – please inspect photos. This piece stands 13 inches tall and weighs 5 pounds.

Type of Object

Figure, statue

Country of Origin

Nigeria

Ethnicity

Yoruba

Material

Wood, Pigment

Animal

Approximate Age

Unknown

Height (Inches)

13"

Width (Inches)

10"

Depth (Inches)

9"

Weight (Pounds)

5 lbs

Overall Condition

Cracks on base and neck – imperfections

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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.