Yoruba Art & Culture
Sculpture
The Yorubas started creating magnificent sculptures out of terra cotta clay as far back as the 12th and 14th centuries. Bronze sculptures were made during the 14th and 15th centuries. Later, they began to create a more abstract wooden sculpture as their major art form. Today, the Yorubas have advanced in sculptural arts, and their artworks are sold across the world. Pottery Women typically are the potters in the Yoruba land. Pots are moulded out of clay by hands. They are used for cooking, water storage, and decorations. Special pots are designed in honor of some deities. Leather and Beads Goat, sheep, and antelope skins are used by men for all forms of leather work. Beads are used to make necklaces, bangles, handbags, flower pots, and to decorate hats, bags, and king's crowns. Blacksmithing The blacksmiths are responsible for making tools such as hoes, cutlasses, knives, chains, hammers, and iron weapons. Textiles Weaving is done on different types of looms to make Aso-oke (the most prestigious cloth). Silk and cotton are used to make different forms of clothes. Adire (tie and dye), a popular Yoruba cloth is produced by using a variety of dye techniques. Indigo (a native plant) is often used as a dye in making adire cloth. Hairstyle Women typically do different hairstyles; weaving, braiding, plaiting, and threading. |