An ancient West African kingdom in what is now Nigeria, famous for its sophisticated bronze sculpture and metalwork.
From the Yoruba language; Ife was an important historical center of the Yoruba people. The name refers to both the place and the artistic tradition.
Ife's bronze sculptures from 800+ years ago are so realistic that Europeans originally refused to believe Africans created them—they assumed Europeans must have made them, a racism that denied incredible African artistry. The bronzes are masterpieces of human realism.
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