Ikengas

sculture of male cults
represents the individual’s personal success
common with other southern Nigerian cultures
- other cultures call the shrines by similar names
  - historical relationship
- most developed with the Igbo
can represent material, spiritual, or physical success
- yam farmer accumulating wealth is the ideal successful man
- institutionalized in the wooden shrines
  - commissioned by a successful male upon marriage and establishment

Features

emphasize the right hand
- most powerful hand
- symbolism in holding a knife in right hand
horned heads
- meaning male power
- comes from fighting rams
- also represents the aggression
upright ikenga
- meaning forthright and open
long-bladed knife
- primordial gift to mankind from diety
- represents the means to kill
  - severed head is the action
- shows the bravery
- success can be in blacksmithing or farming or other professions
- reference older tradition of headhunting
pointed projections on head
- may have three projections
  - three is a symbol for males
- may be ritual chalk
  - for purity and protection