Museum Explorer
Death in Africa
Funeral screen
From: Nigeria, collected in 1916
Date: 19th century AD
This screen shows a king called Amachree I. It was made after he died to stand in his clan's headquarters, so that everyone would remember him. Offerings were made to it every week, in the hope that his spirit would be happy and so bring his people good luck.
The king is in the middle, wearing the headpiece from a masquerade dance he used to perform. His headpiece is in the shape of a European trading ship. This is because Amachree had become wealthy by trading with Europeans,
