Kingdom Of Ife

Why is it so hard to get back on the wagon after getting off for a holiday??!! We haven't managed to hit the gym/yoga/salsa yet and report back but we did take in some culture (brain exercise - it counts!!) during the week during a visit to the British Museum to see the Kingdom of Ife exhibition.

If you live in London or are visiting between now and the 6th of June then you must visit this exhibition. The focus is treasures of ancient art discovered in Nigerian from what was the kingdom of Ife which flourished in Yoruba land between the 11th and 15th centuries (in present day Osun State). The artefacts are astonishing both in scale, ranging from life size heads to miniatures, and detail and are made from diverse materials and with incredible skill. You can watch videos introducing and exploring the work at Kingdom of Ife Videos. In the wider context of the history of art in the world, these bronze and terracotta creations are some of the earliest and most significant instances of realism in art, dating back to before the European Renaissance.


The masks and heads are so lifelike in some instances that you will almost recognise them as faces from modern West Africa. The stories are captivating and offer insights into life in those times. They paint a vivid albeit incomplete picture of the ancient society and its values and sheds light on present traditions. You can see where our relationship with beads began and why and how symbols such as animals are used.


It definitely made us want to run out and find out everything we could, not just on this kingdom but on what were thriving cultures right across what is modern Nigeria and West Africa. In some ways it is also a lesson in modern history as these finds were made relatively recently, after the second world war and we catch a glimpse of Nigeria at that time.


The exhibition shop carries fair trade goodies such as adinkra pebbles, baskets, khanga scarves, books on topics ranging from beads to history, stationery and jewellery all in keeping with the theme.


If you can't see this exhibition there is also the longer running Impressions of Africa: money, medals and stamps until 6th February 2011, admission free and the permanent room The Sainsbury African Galleries as well as other objects scattered through other exhibits. 

Images from the Exhibition guide from The British Museum