Ìlé orí (container for ibòrí)

The Ìlé orí, or “shrine for the head” (also referred to as “house of the head”), is a structure in which followers of the Yoruba religion place an ibòrí, a small pyramidal or conical object often constructed of canvas, leather, and cowrie shells that represents an individual’s orí inú, or “inner head” (the head being an incredibly important concept in Yoruba culture). The ibòrí determines one’s destiny and the shrine both hides one’s ibòrí and keeps it safe. Individuals make offerings to their shrine to ensure a fruitful life, as a neglected ibòrí might lead to misfortune. The ilé orí was typically dismantled upon its owner’s death, but it may also have been taken out of commission prior to death if the owner converted to another religion. This example, like many, is decorated with cowrie shells, which originate in the Indian Ocean and were by and large introduced to Yorubaland in the sixteenth century by Portuguese traders. They came to act as currency, and their presence therefore donates value, but also serves as a symbol of good fortune, which is likely why they came to be used to decorate the ilé orí.