The "Container and the Contained"
"The Container and the Contained"
In Yoruba culture, women and men each have their own characteristics that
make them powerful. Metaphorically, women and men can be compared to
containers and what needs containing. Women are vessels in more than one
sense. They carry babies, and they also receive men during sexual
intercourse. In this way, women have a power that men need. This is
an essential concept of female power that is brought out through the art.
(4)Vessels and receptacles are traditionally associated with women for two purposes: they are symbolic and actual containers, and they are reliable and productive. According to a legend, a woman named Agere was a divination deity’s wife who protected him by hiding him in her belly and also helped him by working with him. Agere containers, which are divination vessels that hold a young male initiate’s palm nuts (contain) and that are also used to ground medicines (productive), became known as such due to this woman. (4)
Although associated with women, instead of images of females, the agere
containers are usually carved in the form of men on horseback, like this one
pictured here. (4)
Ifa
Divination Vessel: Equestrian Warrior (Agere Ifa)
Yoruba, Nigeria
Wood; H. 29.5 cm (11 5/8 in.)
19th century
Museum für Völkerkunde zu Leipzig
Maf22514
