PORTRAIT 8 -TRADITIONAL HEALING SYSTEMS

PROGRAMME SIX

To the older writers from Europe, the traditional healer is “a Witch doctor,” and even to most Nigerian Western medical doctors, his practice is still viewed as unscientific and unacceptable.

The programme lays bare the traditional concept of health care as it operates on the physical, social and spiritual levels. It embraces in this field the ancient arts of divination and illustrates the basic similarities in the concept and methods of Traditional Healing systems. It also examines how various levels of the society – rural, urban literate, illiterate, Christian, Muslim – relate to traditional healing and what impact foreign cultures and modernity have exerted on it, in different Nigerian Cultures.

                                        
                                                  Ifa Divination Priest 

PORTRAIT 7 - SPIRITS IN DISGUISE

PROGRAMME FIVE

Seeks to exploit the visual effect and rich variety of Masquerades and masks among many Nigerian peoples. The variety of artistic styles and costumes – raffia, palm fronds, textiles – is explored for evidence of inter-group relations and trends of historical change.

Similarly, the programme examines the significance of masquerades in the different cultures. In particular, the connection between masquerades and “ancestor worship” is highlighted.

This is the widespread belief that dead ancestors continue to exist on a different physical and spiritual plane where, if properly related to, they continue to watch over, and to guide the living in their daily life. Masquerades are therefore the disguise of ancestors in their seasonal visits to the physical world.

Thus the programme focuses both on masquerades and ancestors, beliefs and practices, concepts and visual images.

 

   Igbo Maiden-Spirit Maskers - Josh Peter    

source: peterartsofafrica.weebly.c...

  

PORTRAIT 6 - RELIGION AND WORSHIP

                                                       PROGRAMME FOUR

Delves into the spiritual life of the different Nigerian peoples and the forms and content of traditional worship. It shows the diversity in the manifestation of outward, veneration of varieties of environmental phenomena and homage to different deities. It shows at the same time the unity in the concept of the Supreme Being and similarities of approach in the worship of the Almighty.

The programme also shows the dynamic factors of change in the modes of worship especially with the coming of Islam which in some parts, has become the traditional religion, and Christianity which in some forms is also becoming indigenized.

                                            

Shrine Object Uvo. Ibo, Nigeria. 19th Century. This is where primitive art meets modern abstraction. The North West IBO people create these shrine objects called Uvo; related to Ikenga, but Uvo are extremely rare. The finely carved head that sits on this M like design is very expressive. This design could also be looked at as a surreal stylized human body. Carved from hardwood with an encrusted surface from years of sacrifices; this is a truly magnificent Nigerian sculpture.
This object stands 9 inches tall and 12 inches long.