The Story of Òsògbó

This silver-colored rectangular panel, crafted entirely of aluminum, depicts the story of Òsògbó in three scenes showing human figures and animals engaging in various activities alongside a body of water. Each scene inhabits a third of the panel and arranged vertically. The entire design, composed of geometric shapes and lines embossed into the aluminum, creates intricate, textured patterns that lend a stylized appearance to the composition. The top scene centers on a large tree with a vertical trunk, horizontal limbs, and symmetrically arranged rows of oval leaves. To the right, three simple human figures with rectangular bodies and linear limbs stand beneath the tree. To the left, another human figure bends over a river, emptying a bucket into the open mouth of a large aquatic creature. Each figure wears distinct garments and patterned hats or hairstyles. Their bodies face forward, while their heads are shown in profile with an oversized central eye. Below the figures is a horizontal band representing water, depicted by rows of short, horizontal lines. The large aquatic creature, possibly a fish, features a repeating circular pattern on its body and vertical lines on its tail and fins. The middle scene features a large tree similar to the one above. To the left, a figure facing right standing beside a small elephant with its slender trunk raised. Another figure, standing to the right of the tree, ties the elephant to it with a rope. The bottom scene depicts two figures facing each other, seated on either side of a table. They wear dresses and have long hair or headdresses. A smaller tree stands to their left, and a lamppost with sixteen vertically arranged flaming oil lamps (eight on each side), is to their right. Below this scene is a horizontal band of water containing two long fish on the right and a floating human head, facing upward, on the left. Stamped into the aluminum at the very bottom of the panel are the words “ASIRU OLATUNDE OSOGBO.”

• Africa
• Sculpture
• Alt Text Accessible

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