There have always been creative works in Africa even before the colonization. Unlike most people think, Africa actually had their own different civilizations, their own way of government, their own artworks. They weren't savages or nomads but people with great ancient empires and kingdoms. Below are some amazing artworks done in some ancient empires and kingdoms in Nigeria.
The Benin Ivory Mask: It's a miniature sculptural portrait in ivory of the powerful queen mother Idia of the 16th century Benin empire, taking the form of an African traditional mask. It was worn not as a mask but as a pendant by her son Esigie. Who owed his kingship as an Oba of Benin to the queen mother's military aid.
There are still two almost identical mask, one at the British museum and the other at metropolitan museum of Arts in New York city. Both feature a serene face of queen Idia wearing a beaded headdress, a beaded choker her neck, scarification highlighted by inlay on the forehead.
The Ife Head:. It is one of eighteen copper allloy sculpture that we're unearthed in 1938 at Ife Nigeria. It is believed to represent a king. It was probably made in the 13th or 14th century C.E., before they had any contact with the European. The Ife head was taken to the British museum a year after finding it.
The head is made of copper and various alloys. The head is made using the lost wax technique and is approximately three-quarters life-size, measuring 35cm high.
The Nok culture is an early iron age population whose material remains are named after the Ham village of Nok in Kaduna state of Nigeria, where their famous terracotta sculptures were first discovered in 1928. The Nok culture appear in Northern Nigeria around 1000BC and vanished under unknown circumstances around 500AD, thus having lasted approximately 1, 500 years.
The function of Nok terracotta sculpture is still unknown. The terracotta figures are hallow, coil built, nearly life size human heads and bodies that are depicted with highly stylized features, abundant jewelry, and varied postures. Some the art works are still in the Nok village, while others are in museums all over the world like Louvre etc.
