House of the head "ile ori" ·  Nigeria, Yoruba · ID: 3052283

Description

leather, fabric, cowrie snails,

Throughout Yorubaland, a person venerates his or her “ori-inu” (“inner head”), a personal spirit that guides an individual’s destiny. The symbol of the inner head is a small conical object, which is in turn secreted in a larger container with a conical lid called “ile-ori”, literally, “house of the head.” The “ile-ori” serves as a shrine to the “ori-inu”.

Because of the association of cowries with currency and wealth, the cowrie-decorated “ile-ori” shrine honours the “ori-inu” and elevates the prestige of the owner.