I have been at a number of museums and places for African local art of recent. I do plan to explore my new area of assignment here in the South South and to share my discoveries here on connect with you all. In other words am bringing you along on my travels gradually through my post. I hope you’ll enjoy the travels as much as I do myself. They are quite interesting and informative as well.
I will do my best to give all the information as regards these images. So much I’ll like to write in this post,however I don’t like to make a post too long incase you lose concentration or lose the story line or become bored along the line.These images are hand carved and they were on display at a park I visited. What attracted me to them is not only the beauty of them,but the ancient and untold stories they tell. The memory the evoke as you look at them.
- They are quite expensive cost wise they could go for a couple of thousand U$D
- They are symbolic they represent something people and scenarios in the real life. Some people, kingdom,race,culture,particular way of life etc.
- They are telling a story or what happened or still exists in some measure in real life matters.
- They are very durable,considering the quality of the wood used on carving them.
- They are so adorable and beautiful when at home, on a shelf or on a wall on the table in the living or any place of your choice.
- They remind you of Africa,and.not just Africa, but a country the giant of Africa itself.
In my numerous post of travels I will remind is of a particular post about The Ancient-Benin-Kingdom . These images are about The ancient Benin kingdom. I often visit that part of Nigeria,so I can tell you first hand the stories that these represent. While I was in Benincity some months ago I also explored and visited The-National-museum-in-Benincity Therefore I have a full authority to these stories If I may so say.
Maybe I should list out what these all are before I continue the post.
- Image of a typical princess at the Palace
- A queen or a queen mother(The King’s mother)
- Possibly a slave woman
- A slave man burdened down with heavy load on a journey.
- A palm wine tapper (possibly for the king and kingdom).
The Benin kingdom is one of those ancient powerful kingdoms in Nigeria that existed before the colonial masters came and it lived on even after independence in 1960. They are known for good traditions and culture. I always love the traditional attires of red and lots of expensive beads. Sometimes it’s white material yet adorned with heavy and plenty beads. The more beads the richer the personality,even the more honour and respect it commands.
The Benin kingdom practiced the slavery culture as well,though that’s totally abolished now and no more part of their current tradition. That can be seen among the images here. The slaves carry out the toughest task in the kingdom. There is a certain number of slaves attached to a king or queen or a typical important personality in the kingdom. In the old traditional system and culture,there was a certain number of slaves to be buried with a king at death. Such was the low estate of a slave and their condemnation for life. All those are a thing of the past now and we are happy for that part. It wasn’t a wonderful life path to be in,but such was the plight of some in those days in that kingdom.
Let’s talk about the palm wine tapper among the images,this is the man to make the king happy. He has the charge of going out quite early in the day to tap palmwine. He has to make sure it’s very fresh and sweet. That goes a long way in the King’s Palace. The art of tapping the palm trees is no small task,only certain people can do it. That’s why there is a chosen particular man for the Job.A very natural fresh wine can cheer up the king especially when he is so burdened with a lot issues in the affairs of the kingdom. It can help him carry out his traditional duties well too.
Don’t want to add anymore than this,it’s an interesting culture and kingdom. It would be nice one day If I can visit the Palace in Benincity whenever am there and write a post of about the Oba himself. That’s not going to be very soon,maybe in the distance future. Hope you haven’t gotten a culture shock? How do you find this? Let’s hear your comments below please, and thanks.
Cheers.
