Beaded Chief and His Court

Origin: Yoruba Tribe, Nigeria
Composition: glass beads, aso'oke textile

The glass beads on this piece are all stitched on by hand, and beads, historically traded as currency, are often associated with wealth and prestige. Many Yoruba objects, like this beaded sculpture/altar piece of a chief atop a horse and his court at his side, have been traditionally embellished with elaborate images and symbolic designs created by small glass beads.

The word ‘Yoruba’ describes both a language and a tribe living across Nigeria and the Popular Republic of Benin, in an area of forest and savannah. Their origins can be traced back to the end of the first millennium like the civilization of Ife. Following the collapse of the Ife civilization, a number of kingdoms such as the Ijebu and the Oyo emerged. They, in turn, disintegrated during the 18th and 19th centuries, but were revived by the colonial powers at the end of the 19th century and today still form the political structure of the Yoruba people. The enormous scale of the slave trade in Nigeria contributed to the diaspora of the Yoruba people and informed spiritual practices in countries such as Haiti (Passage from Bacquart, Tribal Arts of Africa).

An important note: This piece was originally one of a set of two, and has been sold. The other piece is still available, and looks very similar to the one pictured, and is, in fact, in better condition. If you want to purchase the piece similar to the one pictured, simply proceed by clicking "add to cart." Please contact info@sujaro.com for pictures of the other piece, but bear in mind it is strikingly similar to the one pictured above.