Necklace (Odigba Ifa)

Late 19th/early 20th century

Yoruba
Nigeria
Coastal West Africa

Wearing a beaded necklace like this one likens a Yoruba diviner (babalawo) to a king; accordingly, a diviner’s necklace and a king’s crown both require ritual actions. The beaded cylinders of the chain are made of wood from a sacred tree that is said to ensure longevity and prosperity. The flat pendants protecting the diviner’s neck and chest are filled with medicines and other ingredients with similar protective powers.

Status: On View, Gallery 137
Department: Arts of Africa

Culture: Yoruba
Title: Necklace (Odigba Ifa)
Place: Nigeria (Object made in)
Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.: 1875–1925
Medium: Glass beads, cloth, and leather
Credit Line: Gift of Deborah Stokes and Jeffrey Hammer
Reference Number: 1994.708

Jeffrey Hammer and Deborah Stokes, Chicago, IL, by 1994; given to the Art Institute, 1994.

Object information is a work in progress and may be updated as new research findings emerge. To help improve this record, please email . Information about image downloads and licensing is available here.

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Date Dates are not always precisely known, but the Art Institute strives to present this information as consistently and legibly as possible. Dates may be represented as a range that spans decades, centuries, dynasties, or periods and may include qualifiers such as c. (circa) or BCE.

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