Made in Africa: portrait of an Ife ruler
5 December 2009-7 February 2010
Free entry
Living Cultures gallery, Floor 1
Be awed by this sculpture of an Ife head, on tour from the British Museum.
One of the highlights of African art and culture, the Ife (pronounced e-fay) Head is a portrait-like representation of an Oni (king) of the Ife kingdom, created in 12th-14th century AD. Wearing a crown partly painted in red to represent glass or stone beads and feathers, its original function remains uncertain. It may have been used in coronation ceremonies; or placed on an altar to display the king's regalia; or used in funerary ceremonies as a memorial of the deceased where it may have been attached to a wooden figure.
The Kingdom of Ife was a powerful, cosmopolitan and wealthy city-state in West Africa (in what is now modern southern Nigeria). It flourished as a political, spiritual, cultural and economic centre in the 12th-15th centuries AD, and was an influential hub of local and long-distance trade networks. Today it is revered as the ancestral home of the Yoruba people.
"This exquisite brass sculpture was one of the most important archaeological discoveries of the 20th century, it revolutionised the way academics and artists interpreted Africa. It is an iconic example of Yoruba artistry and engineering."
Stephen Terence Welsh, Curator of Living Cultures at The Manchester Museum
The tour of the Ife Head has been made possible through the generous support of the Dorset Foundation. At the end of this exhibition, the Ife Head will return to the British Museum in London and will be shown in Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa, a loan exhibition, from the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, opening 4 March 2010.
Competition
Come along to our Made in Africa Big Saturday on Sat 30 Jan (11am-4pm) and enter our prize draw for your chance to win a one night weekend stay in London for two people to see Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa (4 March-6 June 2010) at the British Museum. The prize includes:
-One night's accommodation at The Montague on the Gardens Hotel, a luxury four star hotel in central London
-Tickets to the British Museum exhibition Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa
-An exhibition catalogue
-Prize can be taken during any weekend between 5 March-6 June 2010
Competition terms and conditions
'Promoter' The Manchester Museum
'Prize provider' British Museum Great Court Limited and The Montague on the Gardens Hotel
1. Only one entry per person.
2. No purchase necessary.
3. The prize is as follows:
-Weekend stay for two at The Montague on the Gardens Hotel, a one night weekend stay only (Friday- Sunday), subject to availability, Bed and Breakfast only, double standard accommodation
- 2 exhibition tickets for Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa
-1 exhibition catalogue for Kingdom of Ife: sculptures from West Africa
4. The prize winner will be drawn and the draw administered by The Manchester Museum.
5. The judge's decision shall be final and no correspondence will be entered into. Prizes cannot be transferred. Prizes cannot be redeemed for cash.
6. The competition closes on Monday 1 February 2010 at 12 noon.
7. The prize draw and notification to the winner will take place on Tuesday 2 February 2010 at 12 noon at The Manchester Museum.
8. The competition is open to anyone living in the United Kingdom aged 18 or over, excluding employees of The Manchester Museum, the British Museum and its associated companies, The Montague on the Gardens Hotel and its associated companies, the close family members and agents or any of the above or anyone involved in the administration of the Promotion.
9. Participants must provide full names and email addresses for entries to be eligible for inclusion in the draw. Illegible, incomplete or incomprehensible entries will be ineligible.
10. The winner will be notified by email. Prizes unclaimed within the two weeks of notification will be deemed forfeit without further notice, and a new winner will be drawn.
11. The Promoter reserves the right to substitute the prizes (or any part of them) for a prize of equivalent or greater monetary value if this is necessary for reasons beyond its control.
12. The Promoter will not be liable for prizes that do not reach the winner for reasons beyond its reasonable control of the Promoter.
13. If the winner of the prize cannot be traced after reasonable efforts have been made by the Promoter, then the Promoter will be entitled to dispose of the prize as it thinks fit without liability to the winner for having done so.
14. Prize winners agree to the use of their name for publicity purposes.
15. It is a condition of entry that all entrants agree to be bound by these rules.
16. Exhibition tickets and catalogue can be picked up from The Montague on the Gardens Hotel during stay.
17. Prize must be taken during any weekend (Friday-Sunday) from Friday 5 March-Sunday 6 June 2010 inclusive.
18. Travel is not included; the winner and guest must make their own way to London.
19. The competition winner must arrange the exhibition visit and overnight stay (including the date and time) with the British Museum in good time (exhibition tickets and hotel rooms remain subject to availability at all times).
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