The man who introduced Ife arts to the world
Leo Frobenius (1873-1938) was a German ethnographer, archaeologist, and writer who played a significant role in bringing Ife art to the world's attention. In 1910, Frobenius embarked on an expedition to Ile-Ife, the sacred city of the Yoruba people in Nigeria. He had heard rumors of impressive sculptures in the area and was particularly interested in learning about the image of the Yoruba god of the sea and wealth, Ori Olokun. Ori Olokun Upon arrival, Frobenius was astounded by the quality and sophistication of the Ife sculptures, particularly the terracotta and bronze heads. He compared their artistry to that of ancient Greek works and marveled at the level of civilization they represented. However, Frobenius held a controversial belief about the origin of these works. He refused to accept that they were created by an indigenous African civilization and instead proposed the theory that they were the product of a lost, advanced civilization, possibly even the mythical city of A