CARVED COLUMNS IN MEETING HOUSE [OBU]
[1,2,4]: CARVED COLUMNS IN MEETING HOUSE [OBU]
[3]: Among the ruins of an Obu (meeting house), a different yet similar carved pillar remains towering over the landscape, depicting dioramas of life in Ohafia (eg a head hunter)
[5]: Ohafia men performing their war dance (Ikperikpe Ogu), carrying (carved?) skulls of conquest on their heads
[6]: Carved columns are seen in a different setting: around an outdoor meeting space. Logs are also used as tiered seating!
From: Igbo culture, Nigeria 🇳🇬Source: @ukpuru
Source notes [1,2,4]: “Carved pillars in an Obu house at Abiriba, Cross River Igbo area, 1930s. Photo: G. I. Jones.”
Source notes [3]: “The central pillar of a ruined [Ohafia] Obu House. The pillar consists of a series of carvings depicting figures and geometric designs and patterns. The base shows a rounded incised decorative pattern, a figures depicting a women carrying a pot on her head, a headhunter with a head, and the top is incised with decorative markings. G. I. Jones, 1930s, Ohafia, eastern Igboland.”
Source notes [5]: “Ikperikpe Ogu, the war dance of the Abam, Ohafia. G. I. Jones, 1930s.”
Source notes [6]: “Tiered seats under trees in an Igbo village square for public activities. Gustaf Bolinder 1930-31.”
Observations: storytelling through form (Ohafia examples), ornamentation without compromising stability, material intelligence, material awareness, resourceful use of material (logs for columns and tiered seating in last example), design by responding to nature, visual contrast (light and dark toned paint to emphasize form), formal contrast, [potential] multipurpose design (column base as seating)
