African Masterpieces in the Skeppsholmen Caverns, Stockholm

After the blockbusters China’s Terracotta Army and Inca – Gold Treasures in the Caverns, Africa’s turn has come to be shown in the Caverns of Skeppsholmen. Over 100 metal, stone and terracotta sculptures dating from the 12th to the 15th century will show the technical and artistic accomplishments of the people of Ife, ancestors of the modern Yoruba of Nigeria.

The objects show the worldview, rituals, and religion of one of the most advanced urban societies of its time. The exhibition reveals a side of African history that might change visitors’ perspectives on Africa.

Dynasty and Divinity: Iife Art in Ancient Nigeria has previously been shown at the Fundación Botín in Santander, Spain, (2009), and traveled to the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Madrid (2009) prior to its critically-acclaimed presentation at the British Museum in London (2010), where it was titled Kingdom of Ife. The U.S. tour of the exhibition (2010-2012) included the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, and the Indianapolis Museum of Art. In the Caverns, the Världskulturmuseerna will be able to present this exhibition in a unique way.

Dynasty and Divinity is organized by the Museum for African Art, New York, and the Fundación Botín, Santander, Spain, in collaboration with the National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria.

30 years ago, artworks from Ife were exhibited at the Museum of Ethnography in Stockholm, as part of the Treasures of Ancient Nigeria exhibition, along with works from Benin and Nok.

For more information contact:
Peter Skogh, +46 703 167 394, peter.skogh@varldskulturmuseerna.se, Director of Communication, Världskulturmuseerna / Swedish National Museums of World Culture

Reason to travel
China's Terracotta Army and Inca - Gold Treasures in the Caverns attracted visitors to Stockholm. 50 percent of the visitors were tourists. 25 percent of the Gold Treasures visitors came for the sole purpose of seeing the exhibition. 175 000 saw the Terracotta Army and 46 000 the Gold Treasures.