Walls of Benin
The Walls of Benin were a combination of ramparts and moats, called Iya, used as a defense of the capital Benin City in present-day Edo State of Nigeria. It was considered the largest man-made structure lengthwise, second only to the Great Wall of China and the largest earthwork in the world. With more recent work by Patrick Darling, it has been established as the largest man-made structure in the world, larger than Sungbo’s Eredo. It enclosed 6,500 km² of community lands. Its length was over 16,000 km of earth boundaries. It was estimated that earliest construction began in 800 AD and continued into the mid 1400’s.
(Source: imhotepshakur, via diasporicroots)
Various combs from Nigeria
Edo or Otua?
20th Century
wood
Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology Cambridge
Better Nigeria 2013
This is Africa, our Africa
This statue represents the three major tribes of Nigeria.
Mark my words. One day Nigeria will be the hub of forward thinking and advanced innovations. Sadly it is not coming soon. I stand on a terraformed piece of land that will soon be a luxury estate but i am not impressed. Lagos has so much potential if it listens to the right people. I want to be one of those people but sadly no one want to look passed my appearance. I cant be bothered to impress anyone or follow in the mistakes of the past. To usher in change we must sometimes accept what we don’t understand.
Feature Artist: Chris Saunders
africandigitalart.com
Dreams for Nigeria (by IRITV)
“Dreams for Nigeria” highlights both the challenges and achievements of seven female members of Nigeria’s House of Representatives, and the role they have played in their country’s political, social and economic development. The documentary follows the legislators as they meet with their constituents and discuss their goals for the future of Nigeria. Highlighting education and better access to healthcare as necessary tasks, these women hope to be models to Nigeria’s youth and present a diversely unified Nigeria where everyday dreams are attainable.
The representatives highlighted in the documentary include: Hon. Binta Garba Masi, Adamawa State; Hon. Saudatu Sani, Kaduna State; Hon. Titi Akindahunsi, Ekiti State; Hon. Maimuna Adaji, Kwara State; Hon. Florence Akinwale, Ekiti State; Hon. Nimota Oba Suleiman, Kwara State; Hon. Beni Lar, Plateau State.
(If you watch this, message me to let me know what you think about the documentary! thank you!)
Nigerian atheist Leo Igwe criticises ‘construct’ of religion on BBC Newsday
It’s not often you hear voices questioning the existence of God in Africa. But African Humanists - atheists, secularists and sceptics - gather next week in Ghana, one of the world’s most religious countries, to look at ways to promote an African “Enlightenment”. BBC Newsday’s Akwasi Sarpong spoke to Nigerian humanist campaigner Leo Igwe.
(via orobolicious)
Designer: Buki Akib
Homecoming Collection
Website: www.bukiakib.com
The Gourd Wallhanging is a variation of the traditional Hausa-Fulani oval knot pattern. Such designs appear not only on traditional gourds, but also in Islamic Hausa-Fulani textiles and architectural reliefs.
the secret to life is if you’re not a Mami Wata, make yourself one
— Mom (via chisomu-xvi)
Nigeria's University of Port Harcourt closes after protests of student killings →
The University of Port Harcourt has been shut down indefinitely following violent protests by students of the institution over the gruesome murder of four of their colleagues by youths in Omuokiri-Aluu community, spokesman of the university, Dr William Wordi has confirmed.
According to reports, the students had stormed the village in anger, setting ablaze no fewer than 12 houses in the community during the Tuesday protest. Students from other institutions under the aegis of National Association of Nigeria Students, NANS, stormed the university to mobilise students in Port Harcourt to protest against the brutal killing of four of their colleagues youths in Omuokiri-Aluu community last Friday.
The rampaging students blocked the East West road for several hours before allegedly marching to Omuokiri-Aluu community to start wrecking havoc setting fire to about twelve houses. The aggrieved students who blocked the East West road, reportedly insisted that they would only move out of the road after the Vice Chancellor of the University, Prof Joseph Ajienka had addressed them.
The Vice Chancellor reportedly obliged them after securing assurances that he would not be rough handled. However, during the address he was pelted with sachet water. Meanwhile, Dr Williams Wodi, the spokesman of University of Port Harcourt, has disowned the protesters, saying that students of the institution were not among those who demonstrated along East-West road in Port Harcourt.
The protesters had disrupted the flow of traffic on the busy road in a protest over the extra-judicial killing of four students of University of Port Harcourt. The four students were murdered by a mob at Omuokiri village, near the university, for allegedly stealing a laptop and blackberry phones.
Wodi said that the protesters took to the streets because the vice-chancellor of the university refused to meet with them due to security concerns. “Some students who claimed to be representatives of the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) came to the campus yesterday (Oct. 8) insisting on seeing the vice-chancellor. “The vice-chancellor declined to meet with them; he told them that he had met with the students of the university and they had agreed to cancel the celebration of the students’ union week. “The essence of the cancellation was to discourage the gathering of students which can escalate the already deepening security situation in and around the university,” he said.
The university spokesman called on students of the university to remain calm and law abiding; promising that perpetrators of the `dastardly act’ would be brought to book.
Altar
Benin Empire, 18th-19th century
The National Museum of African Art
This object possibly supported an ivory tusk on an altar. The depiction of four female figures holding gongs suggests an association with an iyoba, or queen mother. Two figures strike bird gongs, which symbolize the infallibility of the oba.
Chinua Achebe publishes Biafran memoir →
Renowned Nigerian author Chinua Achebe has published his long-awaited memoir, There Was a Country, about the brutal three-year Biafran war.