The famous sculptures from Ife originate from the 12th to 15th century A.D.
The civilization of Ife may be thousands of years older than this.
The inhabitants of Ife lived in towns whose houses were grouped around inner courtyards.
In each district of the town there was a leader whose house had 2 or more inner courtyards.
Ife is the capital of a Yoruba kingdom of the same name. The Yoruba are a people that live in parts of present-day Nigeria, Benin and Togo.
Ife is also the religious centre of the Yoruba culture.
Ife
other Yoruba towns
Ife is situated in the middle of the West African rain forest.
The houses of the aristocrats had several inner courtyards and were situated near the palace.
Amongst other things, the palaces had pillars in the form of carved figures. Some houses had mosaics in the inner courtyards.
The "Opa Oranyan" is one of several free-standing obelisks in Ife.
The town of Ife had two defence walls of mud with corresponding ditches.
