Ikenga Altar Figure

Origin: Igbo Tribe, Nigeria
Composition: wood, pigment, indigo

Historically, men among the Igbo commissioned personal altars to be dedicated and consecrated to their personal strength, success, and accomplishments, and sometimes as well to their protection. Warriors, farmers, traders, smiths, and others prayed and sacrificed to these altars before important undertakings, offering further gifts after meeting with success (or sometimes berating the altar after failure). The Igbo carved many variable forms of such personal altar figures, yet they were all called ikenga.

Most ikenga are dedicated to the hand, specifically the right hand (and arm). Strong hands and arms are agents of physical prowess, necessary for success in such activities as hunting, farming, and warfare. Many ikenga, such as this piece, depict a horned warrior holding a knife in his right hand and a human trophy head in his left, which are power symbols established long ago.

Large horns are also essential features of altars to the hand—they can be straight, spiral, and curved, and even have animals perching atop them. The horns are usually referred to as ram horns, yet often they do not resemble them. The horns add the the altar figure's power, and evoke animalistic aggression (Ref: Visona, "A History of Art in Africa").

In addition to being expertly carved (from a single piece of wood) and decorated with pigment, much of the top of this figure was once covered with indigo, and many traces still remain.

Please contact us to inquire about this piece at (415) 362-6601 or info@sujaro.com.