Olokun, a Yoruba god/goddess. This image was dug up in the late 19th century in the Olokun Grove, Ile-Ife, Osun state and used in annual rites to honour Olokun.

Olokun, a Yoruba god/goddess. This image was dug up in the late 19th century in the Olokun Grove, Ile-Ife, Osun state and used in annual rites to honour Olokun.

Olokun, a Yoruba god/goddess. This image was dug up in the late 19th century in the Olokun Grove, Ile-Ife, Osun state and used in annual rites to honour Olokun.

An Ife priest, Chief Faloba Fagbenro, described Olokun as the goddess of the sea and patron of bead making, which makes glass bead work an important industry in Ile-Ife.

He recalled that the head of Olokun (Ori Olokun) remained in the hands of the family responsible for the Olokun cult until Ooni of ile-ife brought it to the palace for safekeeping in 1934.

The terra-cotta head of Olokun has been replicated in strategic places of the world, including Latin America and Europe. The image always brings back to memory the civilisation in the areas of art and technology that took place in Nigeria and Africa before the British invasion.

Even though Olokun is believed to be a female and also a male, at the same time, among different worshippers and tribes around the world, most of the features of typical Olokun Heads are very similar, except for the fact that some of the faces are feminine, smiling and without the holes which represent the pores for beard growth or shaven male beard.

Scarifications: Facial scarification or facial marks are common on all Olokun heads. This symbolises the Yoruba traditional body and facial ornament like tribal marks. The Scarifications on Olokun heads are usually straight and diagonal marks from the tip of the head, down from both cheeks, nose and down to the chin. They are beautifully crafted and ornamented.

Crown: A typical Olokun crown has a crown-like covering on the head. Although, there is no historical backing, to support any information about Olokun being a king, but some of the historical accounts suggest Olokun as being a queen (as a female) and a king (male) of the ocean.

Tiny Holes: Some Olokun heads have tiny holes along both cheeks, upper parts of the lips, neck and the jaws areas, to represent beards in men.

Holes under the eyes: It is has been noticed that some Olokun heads have wide holes under the two eyes, though this is not a common feature of a typical Olokun head, but must be observed and noted. Researchers believe, this may have been as a result of making Olokun Heads in form masks to cover the face, in some cultures and worship in some parts of the world. There is no proof yet, if Olokun masks are worn during Olokun worships or festivals.

Olokun is still a reverred and respected deity in Yoruba land and some other parts and festivals are still celebrated by Olokun worshippers till date, in Ile-Ife and many parts of the world.

Written by Famoriyo ‘Dare Ebenezer, Principal Museum Education Officer, National Museum, Lagos. Source: The Nation