Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria

Sanda Francis Ademola; Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

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Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria

Sanda Francis Ademola, Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi

Published in International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications (Volume 3, Issue 4)

Received: 11 November 2016 Accepted: 21 April 2017 Published: 16 June 2017

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Abstract

Significant works have been done on the religious content, uniqueness and functionality of African art and objects. However, not much has been done on carvers of religious sculptures. This paper therefore provides a fresh historical account on the origin and exponents of wood carving in Oyo Southwestern Nigeria. Two prominent families of traditional religious wood carvers in Oyo were studied: the Oke family of Ebike clan and the Odekunle family. A comparative analysis of the works of the two families was carried out to determine the historical timeline, stylistic and thematic features of their cult wood carving, especially (Ifa cult) in Oyo. Findings revealed the wide margin of variation in the works of the two most prominent carver families in Oyo. Other issues bewildering the survival religious wood carving tradition and traditional art in general in the Nigeria were articulated and suggestions were proffered.

Published in	International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications (Volume 3, Issue 4)
DOI	10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12
Page(s)	53-62
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2017. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Art, Ifa, Religion, Sculpture

References

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Sanda Francis Ademola, Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi. (2017). Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria. International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications, 3(4), 53-62. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

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ACS Style

Sanda Francis Ademola; Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi. Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria. Int. J. Archit. Arts Appl. 2017, 3(4), 53-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

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AMA Style

Sanda Francis Ademola, Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi. Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria. Int J Archit Arts Appl. 2017;3(4):53-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

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@article{10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12,
  author = {Sanda Francis Ademola and Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi},
  title = {Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria},
  journal = {International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {53-62},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaaa.20170304.12},
  abstract = {Significant works have been done on the religious content, uniqueness and functionality of African art and objects. However, not much has been done on carvers of religious sculptures. This paper therefore provides a fresh historical account on the origin and exponents of wood carving in Oyo Southwestern Nigeria. Two prominent families of traditional religious wood carvers in Oyo were studied: the Oke family of Ebike clan and the Odekunle family. A comparative analysis of the works of the two families was carried out to determine the historical timeline, stylistic and thematic features of their cult wood carving, especially (Ifa cult) in Oyo. Findings revealed the wide margin of variation in the works of the two most prominent carver families in Oyo. Other issues bewildering the survival religious wood carving tradition and traditional art in general in the Nigeria were articulated and suggestions were proffered.},
 year = {2017}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria
AU  - Sanda Francis Ademola
AU  - Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi
Y1  - 2017/06/16
PY  - 2017
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DO  - 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12
T2  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JF  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JO  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
SP  - 53
EP  - 62
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1131
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12
AB  - Significant works have been done on the religious content, uniqueness and functionality of African art and objects. However, not much has been done on carvers of religious sculptures. This paper therefore provides a fresh historical account on the origin and exponents of wood carving in Oyo Southwestern Nigeria. Two prominent families of traditional religious wood carvers in Oyo were studied: the Oke family of Ebike clan and the Odekunle family. A comparative analysis of the works of the two families was carried out to determine the historical timeline, stylistic and thematic features of their cult wood carving, especially (Ifa cult) in Oyo. Findings revealed the wide margin of variation in the works of the two most prominent carver families in Oyo. Other issues bewildering the survival religious wood carving tradition and traditional art in general in the Nigeria were articulated and suggestions were proffered.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
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Author Information

Sanda Francis Ademola

Department of Curriculum and Teaching, University of Calabar, Calabar, Nigeria
Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi

Centre for Black and African Civilization, Abuja, Nigeria

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APA Style

Sanda Francis Ademola, Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi. (2017). Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria. International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications, 3(4), 53-62. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

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ACS Style

Sanda Francis Ademola; Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi. Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria. Int. J. Archit. Arts Appl. 2017, 3(4), 53-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

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AMA Style

Sanda Francis Ademola, Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi. Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria. Int J Archit Arts Appl. 2017;3(4):53-62. doi: 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12,
  author = {Sanda Francis Ademola and Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi},
  title = {Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria},
  journal = {International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications},
  volume = {3},
  number = {4},
  pages = {53-62},
  doi = {10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.ijaaa.20170304.12},
  abstract = {Significant works have been done on the religious content, uniqueness and functionality of African art and objects. However, not much has been done on carvers of religious sculptures. This paper therefore provides a fresh historical account on the origin and exponents of wood carving in Oyo Southwestern Nigeria. Two prominent families of traditional religious wood carvers in Oyo were studied: the Oke family of Ebike clan and the Odekunle family. A comparative analysis of the works of the two families was carried out to determine the historical timeline, stylistic and thematic features of their cult wood carving, especially (Ifa cult) in Oyo. Findings revealed the wide margin of variation in the works of the two most prominent carver families in Oyo. Other issues bewildering the survival religious wood carving tradition and traditional art in general in the Nigeria were articulated and suggestions were proffered.},
 year = {2017}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Art in the Service of Religion: A Study of Selected Carvers of Ifa Sculptures and Objects in South-Western Nigeria
AU  - Sanda Francis Ademola
AU  - Oladokun Taiwo Olaniyi
Y1  - 2017/06/16
PY  - 2017
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12
DO  - 10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12
T2  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JF  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
JO  - International Journal of Architecture, Arts and Applications
SP  - 53
EP  - 62
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2472-1131
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijaaa.20170304.12
AB  - Significant works have been done on the religious content, uniqueness and functionality of African art and objects. However, not much has been done on carvers of religious sculptures. This paper therefore provides a fresh historical account on the origin and exponents of wood carving in Oyo Southwestern Nigeria. Two prominent families of traditional religious wood carvers in Oyo were studied: the Oke family of Ebike clan and the Odekunle family. A comparative analysis of the works of the two families was carried out to determine the historical timeline, stylistic and thematic features of their cult wood carving, especially (Ifa cult) in Oyo. Findings revealed the wide margin of variation in the works of the two most prominent carver families in Oyo. Other issues bewildering the survival religious wood carving tradition and traditional art in general in the Nigeria were articulated and suggestions were proffered.
VL  - 3
IS  - 4
ER  -

Copy | Download