Chika Okeke-Agulu, Professor of African and American Diaspora Art at Princeton University, is calling for the halt of the sale of two Igbo alusi figures in the upcoming Christie's sale. We speak to him to find out why.
"Find something that you connect with and love because then it becomes something that you want to learn about. It becomes a new passion. It's not just about art... There's so much more to it. It opens up this door of learning that you can't tire from."
They are often not "dolls." Collectors and dealers should know better than to perpetuate an inaccurate label for widely used, spiritually sanctioned 'child' figures that belong to hopeful African mothers. Let's get rid of an erroneous stereotype.