Wood-Carving in the Yoruba Country To-day

Abstract

Opening ParagraphIn no other part of West Africa has the art of wood-carving flourished to such an extent as in the Yoruba country in south-western Nigeria. Even to this day, this part of Africa is still the richest field for traditional wood-carving of all descriptions, although there are signs that this art is rapidly dying out. Nevertheless, orders can still be given to carvers in some districts for the richly carved posts, the beautifully carved doors, stools, masks, and all the different items connected with the various rituals. There are, for instance, little figures or heads, trays, casks, and wooden staves for the Ifa worship, statuettes called Ibeji used in the cult of the God of the Twins, wooden stands, dancing-clubs, double axes, and other symbols used in the Shango cult, quite apart from figures depicting Shango or more frequently his priests and worshippers decorated with his emblems.