divinersbowl

Diviner's Bowl (opon igedeu) by Arowogun (Areogun) of Osi-Ilorin Title: Diviner's Bowl (opon igedeu) Artist: Aro wogun (Areogun) Country of Origin: Nigeria Culture: Yoruba peoples Date: around 1880-1956 Size: height: 31.11 cm (12 1/4 in.) diameter: 29.21 cm (11 1/2 in.) Museum Accession Number: 1991.1066 Current Location: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston Provenance: Collected in-situ in August 1986 by Charles Davis. Purchased from Davis Gallery, New Orleans, 1986. Given to the MFA by William and Bertha Teel in 1991.

The Yoruba culture of Nigeria hold a strong background in the production of art. They are known for their art skill in several different areas. One of which, the most important art form, being wood carving. This Diviner’s Bowl by Arowogun of Osi-Ilorin is a type of wood carving used for ritual ceremonies. The man performing the rituals at these ceremonies is referred to as a diviner, which allows the bowl to be named accordingly. This diviner’s bowl is a cylindrical bowl carved from wood. The bowl has a circular attached lid with a hinge that allows the lid to open and close. On the outer walls of the bowl and lid there are a number of relief figures carved. On the lid, there is a man on a bicycle in the center with two figures on either side of him. There are decorative borders along the edges of both the lid and the bowl. On the outer wall of the bowl there are carved figures such as a woman, a warrior and a drummer.(MFA Boston) The human figures are depicted fairly abstractly with large, wide eyes and disproportioned bodies. However, the figures hold details on their clothing, hats and the objects they hold. Map of Nigeria, place of the Yoruba culture. []
 * __ Introduction __**
 * __ Descriptive Analysis __**

Yoruba culture is primarily located in Nigeria, on Africa’s western coast. The Yoruba people create many different types of artwork including woodcarving, pottery, sculpture, metal work, textiles and bead work. Woodcarving, however, is considered the most primitive form of art for the Yoruba culture. The artists, who are solely men, produce various objects for rituals.(Mullen 2004) Arowogun of Osi-Ilorin was a well known artist among the Yoruba. He was a public artist who was commissioned by the king to create different types of carvings. This small bowl was made for a babalawo (father of secrets) who is a priest and diviner, to use during an Ifa divination ceremony. The babalawo used the bowl to hold ritual materials for his ceremonies.(MFA Boston) Divination is a large part of ritual forms of artwork. When the diviner is performing the ritual, it is likely that they are trying to solve a problem. For the Yoruba people, Ifa divination is a customary way to solve problems. The Ifa diviner performs the rituals in order to understand or find out what is causing the particular problem. (Mullen 2004) The figure on the lid and outside of the bowl represents Esu, a god of chaos and trickery. He is a god that has both good and evil characteristics and he mediates both heaven and earth. (Brodd 2003) He is depicted as a bicycle rider, which is a type of signature for Arowogon’s work. It also refers to the divination aspect and how it plays a role in modern life. (MFA Boston) Considering Esu is a god of trickery and mischievous behavior, the jokester image of him riding a bicycle fit his image quite well. It is believed that the god Esu, portrayed on the bowl riding a bicycle, brings the answer or message down from the other deities to be interpreted by the babalawo. (Ileifa.org) The Diviner's Bowl is a ritual object, and serves a valuable cultural purpose. The ritual performed by a babalawo begins by covering the bowl with white flour, and then imprinting certain signs on the flour surface. The signs represent the 16 Ifa deities. Each deity has a story with meaning attached, which the babalawo has memorized. It is the meaning of the story that determines the answer to the question, or the lesson to be learned by the questioner. (S. Davis) It is believed that the god Esu, portrayed on the bowl riding a bicycle, brings the answer or message down from the other deities to be interpreted by the babalawo. (Ileifa.org)
 * __ Formal and Contextual Analysis __**

Arowogun of Osi Ilorin (1880-1954) []


 * __ References __**

==== Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. African Art: Diviner’s Bowl. [] ====

-Discusses wood carvings and Arowogun.

 * Art Lesson 1 **
 * Title: "Ritual Object" **
 * Grade Level: 10-12 Grade **
 * Time: 6 Class Periods **

(http://artsedge.kennedy-center.org/educators/standards/full-text/9-12-standards.aspx):
 * This lesson meets the following National Standards for Arts Education (Visual Arts): **
 * //Visual Arts Content Standard 4: Students describe the function and explore the meaning//**
 * //of specific art objects within varied cultures, times, and places.//**

Formal Choice: Vessel/Bowl Cultural Context: Yoruba, Nigeria Function/Purpose: Ritual object

Time: 1 Class Period 1. Introduce Yoruba culture and **Art in Ritual** key concept. 2. Communal visual examination of //Diviner's Bowl// (What do you see?) 3. Discuss content of art work 4. What might it (the icon on the bowl) mean? 5. Think about the title of the object. What is a diviner? 6. What might the bowl be used for in Yoruba culture?
 * Lesson Activities:**
 * Activity 1: Looking at //Diviner's Bowl// **

Defining Ritual: (www.dictionary.com) (www.dictionary.com)
 * Activity 2: The Role of Art in Ritual **
 * //Ritual//**: An established or prescribed procedure for religious or other rites.
 * //Rite//**: A formal or ceremonial act prescribed or customary in religious or other solemn use.
 * //Ceremony//**: A formal religious or sacred observance. (www.dictionary.com)
 * Discussion**

1. In your own words, what is a ritual?

2. **Describe //divining ritual// of Ife religion and it's cultural significance/purpose:**

The //Diviners Bowl// was made for a babalawo (father of secrets) who is a priest and diviner, to use during an Ifa divination ceremony. The babalawo used the bowl to hold ritual materials for his ceremonies.(MFA Boston) Divination is a large part of ritual forms of artwork. When the diviner is performing the ritual, it is likely that they are trying to solve a problem. For the Yoruba people, Ifa divination is a customary way to solve problems. The Ifa diviner performs the rituals in order to understand or find out what is causing the particular problem. (Mullen 2004)

The ritual performed by a babalawo begins by covering the bowl with white flour, and then imprinting certain signs on the flour surface. The signs represent the 16 Ifa deities. Each deity has a story with meaning attached, which the babalawo has memorized. It is the meaning of the story that determines the answer to the question, or the lesson to be learned by the questioner. (S. Davis)

It is believed that the god Esu, portrayed on the bowl riding a bicycle, brings the answer or message down from the other deities to be interpreted by the babalawo. (Ileifa.org)

3. **Writing/Graphic Organizer topics and questions**: a.Do we have rituals in our lives? What purposes do they serve? Do they involve the arts? b.Venn diagram to compare/contrast Yoruba ritual to a ritual from another culture. c.Do we have rituals in our lives that provide guidance? d.Where do we go for guidance with choices? e.Where do our "messages" or influences come from? What sources?

I. Demonstration of creating a clay vessel (coil pot or wheel thrown) 2. Students write a description of a vessel in terms of how it could be used in a ritual to convey a message. For example: As a ritual, every night I write down something positive that happened to me during the day and place the writing in a vessel. I also place objects that mean something to me in the vessel. At the end of the week I read all the messages and look at what I've collected. This ritual helps me maintain a positive attitude.
 * Activity 3: Create A Ritual Object **

I. Create symbolic/metaphoric vessel that can convey a message on our behalf. 2. Students create a clay vessel/bowl using coil or wheel thrown method.
 * Activity 4: Create A Ritual Object **

1. Demonstrate glazing technique. 2. Students glaze vessel 3. Clay vessels are fired in kiln.
 * Activity 5: Glaze and Fire Vessel**

1. What kind of ritual will your vessel be used for? 2. What is the message you hope to convey? 3. What formal choices did you make when creating your vessel and how do they help convey your message or purpose for the art work?
 * Activity 6: Presentation of Vessel**
 * Students present their finished work to the class and answer the following questions:**

__**Scoring Rubric**__ __ **Writing/Graphic Organizer** __ Do we have rituals in our lives? What purposes do they serve? Do they involve the arts? Venn diagram to compare/contrast Yoruba ritual to a ritual from another culture. Do we have rituals in our lives that provide guidance? **5 Points** Where do we go for guidance with choices? Where do our "messages" or influences come from? What sources?
 * Part 1:**
 * Possible Points: 30**
 * 10 Points **
 * 5 Points**
 * 5 Points **
 * 5 Points **

1. What kind of ritual will your vessel be used for? **15 Points** 2. What is the message you hope to convey? **15 Points**
 * Part 2: **
 * Written description of vessel as ritual object and it's message: **


 * Possible Points: 30 **

Part 3: **Possible Points:** **50**
 * Clay Vessel Creation**

Part 4:
 * Presentation**
 * Possible Points: 15**

1. What kind of ritual inspired you to create your vessel? **5 Points** 2. Is this ritual intended for a group or for an individual? **5 Points** 3. What formal choices did you make when creating your vessel and how do they help convey your message or purpose for the art work? **5 Points**

__**References**__

Davis, S. //Divining Bowls: Their Uses and Origin//. University of Natal, South Africa.
www.dictionary.com (Definitions of //Ritual, Rite, Ceremony//)