BY WILLIAM DEWEYPENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY (FORMERLY UNIVERSITY OF IOWA) Nigeria; Yoruba (Ife) artist Head Clay H. 16 cm (6 1/4″) National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria, 79.R.6 (Ife 305) Photo by Dirk Bakker In 1910 the German anthropologist Leo Frobenius visited the Nigerian city of Ife and brought several ancient terracotta heads back to Germany.  He claimed a Greek colony in Africa produced the incredibly naturalistic sculpture he discovered … Continue reading IFE Arts 2

BY WILLIAM DEWEYPENNSYLVANIA STATE UNIVERSITY (FORMERLY UNIVERSITY OF IOWA) Nigeria; Yoruba (Ife) artist Oni figure Brass H. 47.1 cm (18 9/16″) National Museum, Lagos, Nigeria, 79.R.12 Photo by Dirk Bakker The Yoruba people of Nigeria believe the world began at the city of Ife. One version of their myth relates how Olodumare, the creator, sent his son, Oduduwa, to form the earth. At that time there was … Continue reading IFE