The origin of the Nigerian artworks can be traced back to 20 decades ago before colonial encroachment into our native land. So many traditional creative pieces that can only be adequately described and their history properly explained by our great forefathers. Still, it should be said that the catalog of Nigerian arts is unlimited.
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Nigerian art from the beginning has always been creative and spellbinding- it is not much different from the various Nigerian art currently in circulation. The uniqueness of the popular Nigerian arts below that separates it from what we appreciate today is the story being told by the work itself.Â
The most popular Nigerian arts are divided into Nok art, Benin art, and Ife art.
Nok Art:Â
This art started during the iron age in a village above the Benue river now known as Kaduna called Nok. Nok art lasted for 1500 years and used mainly iron which is melted and forged into something unique.
However, terracotta sculptures are the most common of Nok art. Nok culture produced the oldest terracotta in Africa, South Saharan. The terracotta sculptures are heads close to life-size.
Benin Art:Â
This art begins originated from the Benin kingdom generally called the Edo empire. The Benin art is made specifically for the court of the Oba of Benin. Benin art is crafted from cast bronze and carved ivory. Benin art is used to honor the divine status of the oba ancestors.
Ife Art:
Ife art describes gods and kings. The majority of the Ife art were sculpted heads to show their strong belief in Ase.Â
Ase is the potential and vigor of an individual which is believed to be on the head. The ife art can be used to trace the origin and descendants of the Yoruba kingdom.
More importantly, the Ife art contains the history of the people of Ife and the various art pieces show offices associated with it. One of the exceptional pieces from Ife art is a sculpture of King Obalufon II, who is recognized for supposedly starting bronze castings. Ife is globally identified with bronze, terracotta, and sculptures.Â
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