Edjo Urhobo: The spirit figure - The Nation Newspaper

called clans, each with common ancestor. The Urhobo have two distinct sculptural traditions of nearly life-size wood figures, one representing spirit and the other actual or myth ancestors. To identify Urhobo figures as either spirits or ancestors can be difficult unless the context is known. However, written descriptions in photography of Urhobo figures suggest that this figure represents a spirit.

The Urhobo believes that singular and collective spiritual forces exist in nature: In water, trees, plants land or air. These spirits known as Edjo are pervasive and their powers encompass all of Urhobo life. A community may have several different kinds of Edjo, although one may recognise it as the spirit of the town. Wood carvings are the physical manifestation of these spirits.

A single shrine building may comprise of a dozen of carved Edjo figures presided over by elaborate hierarchy of titled priests/princess, the spiritual leaders of Edjo cult. This figure such as this might be described as the “wife” of a large male Edjo figure. Sometime a wife is shown nursing a child. This figure depicts one standing and facing frontally with arms held rigidly at its sides. The feet are slightly apart and planted firmly on the base.

This large figure represents ancestor, a founding person in the community whose power and fame has elevated him/her to the status of Edjo . Edjo are regularly offered sacrifices to appease them and the Edjo r’ Ovwodo has annual festivals in its honour. The carved necklace and bracelets are probably meant to represent ivory, as sign of wealth and high status. The white chalk that appears on the eyelid may be a sign of purity.

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