Agere Ifa, divination bowl. Yoruba, Nigeria, early 20th century.

Agere Ifa, divination bowl. Yoruba, Nigeria, early 20th century.
Carved wood.
Provenance: Old Danish collection, collected in situ in the 1960s.
Measurements: 34 cm (height).

This Agere Ifa represents a mother with her child. An Agere ifa is a vessel, pot or container for storing and raising the sacred palm nuts or ikin used in Yoruba divination. Most Agere are made of wood, but also ivory and coco shells. They can represent anthropomorphic forms (often having a votive meaning, especially since some àgéré Ifá are given by clients to a diviner to thank Òrúnmìlà for a blessing or to implore the deity to grant more favors to the donor) but also of animal or of a human figure holding a small bowl. Given its ritual and aesthetic functions, the àgéré Ifá provides the Yoruba carver with a unique opportunity to showcase his artistic talents.

The Yoruba are one of the African ethnic groups whose cultural heritage and identity are most recognized. With respect to the Yoruba social structure, we must comment that it is a highly hierarchical society, in a clearly pyramidal form, where the greatest importance falls on the figure of the king and behind him a High Council that determines the social life of the rest of the components of the community. This structure is uncommon in African city-states and the most interesting thing is that the figure of the king himself has power over life and death. His own life is essential to the welfare of the people. If he is satisfied, so are his subjects. He is the life force of the state.