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Difficulty: EasyPersonal Shrines and Devotional Art

In Igbo culture, an *ikenga* is a personal shrine that is commissioned and maintained by an individual. What is the primary purpose of this sculpture?

  1. To symbolize and support the owner's personal achievements, success, and physical power.Answer
  2. B
    To enforce social laws and seal oaths by driving metal blades or nails into its surface.
  3. C
    To serve as a ritual mask worn by dancers in public ceremonies honoring community ancestors.
  4. D
    To act as a shamanic device used to guarantee successful hunts through cave rituals.

Answer

To symbolize and support the owner's personal achievements, success, and physical power.
The correct answer is correct because the *ikenga* is a personal shrine in Igbo society that translates to 'place of strength.' It is associated with the owner's right hand (the hand of physical action and labor) and is commissioned to celebrate, reinforce, and symbolize the owner's personal achievements, success, and status.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Identify the artwork and culture referenced.
The *ikenga* belongs to the Igbo people of Nigeria.
Establishing cultural origin allows for correct recall of the work's function.
2
Analyze the primary cultural and ritual purpose of the *ikenga*.
The *ikenga* (meaning 'place of strength') is a personal shrine dedicated to the right hand, representing an individual's hard work, skill, and social achievements.
This matches the option describing personal achievements and success.

Key Concept

Function and cultural significance of the Igbo ikenga
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Topics

Personal Shrines and Devotional Art

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