Owerri
Mbari Houses
Mbari in lgbo means the act of creation. Mbari houses are common among the people of Owerri in Imo State of Nigeria.
They are meant for their gods.
The houses are filled with huge often more than life-size unbaked clay statues representing gods or characters from everyday life.
The building and the creation of a Mbari house is connected with the religious belief of the people.
Their priest believes that any occurrence of calamities like famine, disease and untimely deaths is a result of the displeasure of the gods.
The people would, therefore, be called upon to create a Mbari house as a sacrifice to ensure the future well-being of the community.
The building of the Mbari houses includes many members of the community in a major undertaking over a long period of time.They
live apart from the rest of the community until the work is completed.This may take up to two years.
They are subjected to strict laws and undergo various rituals, When the work is finished, they again undergo an elaborate purification process.
The houses are never repaired. They are allowed to disintegrate and become part of the earth from which they were made.
One of such houses is the
temple in which the representation of the figures of the earth goddess, Ala and the god of Thunder, Amadioha, can be seen as well as a woman birth attendant delivering a baby and a medal-bedecked general looking out of a window.
Others are the ones
showing the mother-goddess and her children, a man and his wife representing the members of the community who are under the protection of Ala and the hippopotamus.
see also→
Nok Art
Benin Art
Igbo-Ukwu Art
Tsoede Art
Esie Art
Ibibio Art
Ife Art
Comments
Post a Comment