Yòrùbá
Ekiti region, Nigeria
Coastal West Africa
Headdress (Jagún Jagún)
INV-1559
Yòrùbá
Ekiti region, Nigeria
Coastal West AfricaMid– late 19th century
Headdress (Jagún Jagún)
Yòrùbá Ekiti region, Nigeria Coastal West Africa →yorubaArts of Africaafrican ArtCoastal West Africaheaddressarts of Africa
Date
Mid– late 19th century
Medium
Wood, iron, nails, fiber, and sacrificial materials
Dimensions
Figure and Shield: 110.5 × 38.1 × 43.2 cm (43 1/2 × 15 × 17 in.)
Museum
Art Institute of Chicago
Location
Chicago, IL
Credit
The Art Institute of Chicago, Gift of Richard Faletti, the Faletti Family Collection
This imposing sculptural headdress would have been worn in masquerades honoring Ogun, the Yoruba god of iron, warfare, and technology. It was also part of a shrine where offerings of yams were applied to its surface. Ogun is depicted as a warrior on horseback who carries a shield with four human heads, possibly slain enemies. The smaller figure playing a flute represents Eshu, the divine messenger and god of human destiny.
Also notable
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