Nigeria
Yoruba

Ivory
Late 19th-Early 20th Century
Length: 11 in, Width: 1.375 in
Idiophone – Struck Directly – Tapper

Possibly, rendered by the Owo ivory carvers. This prestigious ivory tapper, called the “iroke Ifa”, was used by the Ifa diviners (“babalawo”), who were the priests of Orunmila, the Yoruba god of fate. The pointed conical end is used to gently tap against the divination tray, called the ” opon Ifa.” (Also shown in this collection under “Other.”  The middle section exhibits a nude kneeling female figure holding her breasts, an image considered effective in honoring the gods and influencing the act positively towards mankind. She is kneeling a posture of attitude in supplication and devotion.  The female depicts a stout, fleshy body, with long scarification marks on her face. During the precolonial past, the “iroke Ifa” was quite expensive in cowries currency, as ivory were reserved for the “Oba” (King of Yoruba), a few high-ranking chiefs and warrior-leaders.