Highlights: African Art
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Urhobo Peoples
African
Until recently, Urhobo communities in southern Nigeria maintained large sculptural groups in shrines, usually at least one per village. The sculptures were viewed as manifestations of spirits known as "edjo." The figures represent the heroic founding families who struggled to develop and sustain new communities—aided by the mystical powers of the edjo. Some Urhobo figures are over-life-size statues that are carved from great pieces of hardwood three feet or more in diameter. As many as one dozen figures may be housed in a single shrine.
African
Shrine Figure (Edjo Re Akare)
20th century
Object Type:
Sculpture
Dimensions:
38 1/4 in. x 14 1/4 in. x 18 in. (97.16 cm x 36.2 cm x 45.72 cm)
Medium and Support:
Wood and pigment
Accession Number:
2013.0017.0028
Credit Line:
Gift of Dileep and Martha Mehta
Until recently, Urhobo communities in southern Nigeria maintained large sculptural groups in shrines, usually at least one per village. The sculptures were viewed as manifestations of spirits known as "edjo." The figures represent the heroic founding families who struggled to develop and sustain new communities—aided by the mystical powers of the edjo. Some Urhobo figures are over-life-size statues that are carved from great pieces of hardwood three feet or more in diameter. As many as one dozen figures may be housed in a single shrine.
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