Olúmèye

Olúmèye in Yoruba simply means “One who knows honour”. The symbolic statue depicts a kneeling woman with a bowl (in the shape of a cock) in front of her and is very peculiar to royal court arts in traditional Yoruba societies. It is significant for its usage as an offering bowl for the presentation of gifts like kola nuts (known as Obi), alligator pepper, or precious items to dignitaries and visitors at the reception of the court house during important ceremonies. Olúmèye figures are also common in Yoruba shrines and are used as bowls for safely keeping sacred items like cowries/beads used for Ifa divination, spiritual objects etc. by the Babalawo, the traditional diviner/native doctor. The cock is specially carved and dissected to serve as the receptacle where the gifts or sacred items and objects are placed, with a lid that can be opened and closed anytime.

As common in most feminine figurines on Fakeye’s sculptures, the woman can be seen with a child fastened to her back; exposed, protruding breasts; and kneeling in prostration in an absolute show of humility and submission. This is intended to honour the recipient of the gifts and spice its presentation with the “lovely hands” of a woman. Her neck is richly adorned with bead necklaces; her hair-do is a traditional style known, in Yoruba, as the Sùkú and her ears are decorated with beautiful necklaces as well. These are pointers that she is probably of noble birth or from a royal background, which means that this particular statue is designed for the purpose of a royal court.