Nigeria

This particular Nok head is distinguished by its flaring nostrils, pierced eyes, asymmetrical hairstyle. This sculpture’s geometric regularity speaks to an art form that was highly refined, demanding careful planning. Named after the village of Nok in central east Nigeria, this culture flourished from about 500 to 50 BCE and arose at one of the earliest known iron-smelting sites in Africa. In the absence of extensive archaeological evidence, significant gaps remain in our understanding of the development of Nok culture and the uses of its terracotta statuary. It has been suggested that the society may have been governed by a system of kingship. Other sculptures from this tradition include figures of heavily armed and decorated warriors, dwarfs, and heads of sacred animals, all of which are associated with kingship.

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