Nigeria is rich in traditional crafts. Its population consisting of 250 ethnic groups, has produced a rich heritage in crafts, such as weaving, basketry, wood carving and bronze casting. The Major Ethnic Groups are the Yorubas (mainly in the SW), the Hausas in the North and the Igbos or Ibos in the SE. I had the opportunity to see and purchase some of their beautiful work.



Textiles




Adire Cloth



Kenta



Ibo traditional

The Adire cloth is a Yoruba ceremonial cloth dyed in indigo, using the method of "resist dyeing".
The Kenta cloth is woven in different colours and precise designs and originates from Ghana.
The Igbos have a similar weave with geometric designs



Cast Bronze



Oba (King) on his throne



Stylized head of an antelope



Warrior Head


The history of cast bronze in Nigeria is traced back to the 14th c. AD when the City of Benin was the capital of the Benin Empire. The traditional way of casting bronze statues with the lost wax method is still being used today. Most of the contemporary work is really an adaptation or copy of the old pieces. Many treasured bronzes have been looted during the British Era and found their way into Museums in Britain and the US. A movement was started by the people of Nigeria to get their National Heritage back. I wish them all success.



Wood Carving



Redwood wall plaque of an Oba



Detail of an Ebony and Ivory statue of an Ibo Girl, 1.30m. high



Shop selling Wood carvings in Port Harcourt



The Adire cloth picture was taken from The Textile Museum
The Warrior head is part of the Bronzes looted from Benin in the 19th c. and now in Britain. I believe it is in the Glascow Museum.
Everything else is this page is from my personal collection.