Additional information
| Primary Materials | |
|---|---|
| Regions | |
| Ethnic Groups |
Yoruba Oil Lamp
Even today, over half of rural Nigeria remains off the electrical grid. A hundred years ago, only a few Nigerian cities had access to electricity, requiring people to rely on kerosene lamps, candlelight, and traditional oil lamps. This example, made entirely of iron, was hammered out by a Yoruba blacksmith. The hook at the top allowed the object to be suspended from the rafters or on a wall. The bird on the scraper, which is chained to the lamp, appears related to Opa Osanyin, the god of herbal medicine, indicating this lamp may have been intended to oversee the treatment of a patient. This suggests that the object was used in conjunction with healing processes.
