In Nigeria, there is a city called Ife which was once the capital of the kingdom of Yoruba. Its legacy is felt today; the Yoruba language is one of three official languages.
According to Yoruba legend, Ife is the place where divine creators Oduduwa and Obatala created the world, led by the supreme god Olodumare.
Little was known about this time in history until the discovery of remains and sculptures sent archaeologists rushing to the site.
An exhibition overview on the British Museum website outlines what visitors can expect: "This major exhibition presents exquisite examples of brass, copper, stone and terracotta sculpture from West Africa… Ife flourished as a political, spiritual, cultural and economic centre in the 12th–15th centuries AD, and was an influential hub of local and long-distance trade networks."
The website goes on to explain: "The artists of Ife developed a refined and highly naturalistic sculptural tradition in stone, terracotta, brass and copper to create a style unlike anything in Africa at the time. The technical sophistication of the casting process is matched by the artworks’ enduring beauty."
Back then, King Oni only showed himself to his people twice a year, each time his face covered with a veil of beads. Perhaps one of the faces found was used to represent the king with his veil.
The Kingdom of Ife exhibition contains 100 sculptures borrowed from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments in Nigeria. It ends on June 6, 2010. Nigeria is celebrating its 50th year of independence in 2010.