Casgliadau Arlein

Carved ebony male head (Musa) from northern Nigeria. One of a pair (see also object number F2019.23.5). Belonged to Uzo Iwobi OBE, whose father purchased the pair in the 1980s when he was a visiting professor in the north of Nigeria. As decorations they were placed in the seating room in Enugu state in the eastern part of Nigeria where the Ibo tribes reside.

"Two heads from Northern Nigeria. The Hausa tribe. Hand carved by skilled craftsmen, Amina (female head) and Musa (male head) travelled from the nomadic tribes, who herd cattle across the desert. The braided hair on the female is traditionally called corn rows. The men of the tribe keep their hairs short because of the heat from the sun. Somedays temperatures rise to 40 degrees. They are from LOKOJA." Source: Handwritten story card completed by Uzo Iwobi OBE at St Fagans National Museum of History, 2017.