Mbari. Art and Life among the Owerri Igbo.

Gutes Ex.; Umschl. berieben; Exempl. von H. J. Kolo�(V�lkerkundemuseum Berlin) mit kl. Bleistift-Anstreichungen. - Mbari�a festival of life, vibrant with color and sound, energized with whimsical clay sculptures of gods, men, animals, and monsters placed in a richly decorated architectural setting. One of the most fascinating artistic phenomena in tropical Africa, mbari houses are little known outside Igboland, probably because they are virtually impossible to transport. Art historian Herbert M. Cole has drawn from his extensive research in eastern Nigeria to produce the first book-length study of this unusual art form. Cole explains that the planning, building, and celebrating of mbari are outstanding ceremonial events in the lives of the Owerri Igbo. Mbari houses represent a colorful microcosm of the real world and the spirit world; they are constructed by a village to placate the spirits and ensure long life and fertility to the villagers. The process of erecting the structures involves elaborate rituals and is an act of spiritual renewal that serves to bind the community in a common purpose. Mbari involves a dramatic synthesis of many art forms. The transient arts�body painting, drumming, dancing, singing, and chanting�accompany the building process. More tangible and permanent expressions�architecture, sculpture, and painting�endure in the completed monuments. One mbari house may take as long as two years to complete and may contain as many as 150 sculptures in countless poses and pursuits, from purely erotic scenes to those reflecting the desire for social and economic gains. . (Verlagstext) // INHALT : Preface ---- Acknowledgments ---- Chapter One: Introduction: The Setting ---- Chapter Two: The Gods and the People ---- Chapter Three: The People and Processes of Mbari ---- Chapter Four: Form ---- Chapter Five: Inspiration, Individuality, and Aesthetics ---- Chapter Six: Meaning ---- Chapter Seven: Conclusions ---- Glossary ---- Appendix A: Tree Altars ---- Appendix B: Ndimgbe Names ---- Appendix C: Master List of Mbari Subjects in Sculpture ---- Appendix D: Mbari House at Obaku, Oratta clan, Owerri ---- Bibliography ---- Notes ---- Index. ISBN 0253303974