NIGERIA ~ Osun Osogbo Grove - UNESCO ~

... Great Nigerian UNESCO postcard nr2... the grove is a dense forest, dotted with art works, sculptures, sanctuaries and shrines honoring the goddess Osun and some other deities.... the last remaining site of Yoruba worship... a sacred, tranquil and peaceful place... their history, rich heritage and mesmerizing attractions make it a fascinating, unique and outstanding destination...  there is a festival every year in honour of the river, this is called Osun Osogbo festival... this festival draws tourists from all over the world who come and pay homage to the river goddess... Thanks a lot Ahmed!!❀◕ ‿ ◕❀

Osun-Osogbo Sacred Grove  (±75 hectares) is a sacred forest along the banks of the Osun River in Osun State.

Dedicated to Osun, the Yoruba goddess of fertility, the area was established more than four centuries ago and is the largest of the sacred groves that have survived to the present. The Osun River meanders through the protected area, with sanctuaries and shrines erected along its course. In the 20thC, the development of the movement of New Sacred Art invigorated efforts to protect the grove, and modern sculpture now adds to the spiritual significance of the site.

This movement was led by Susanne Wenger (1915–2009), an artist and Yoruban priestess, and it transformed Osogbo into a hub of artistic activity and new ideas about contemporary African art. She married a local drummer and lived in Osun Oshogbo until her death.

The Osun-Osogbo Grove was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 2005

Stamp:

National Theatre
(Issued 23-05-1990)

Definitive hologram stamp
(Issued 09-10-2010)

NIGERIA ~ Sukur Cultural Lanscape - UNESCO ~

... First of two wonderful African UNESCO sites... Sukur Cultural Landscape became the first site in Nigeria to be inscribed on the World Heritage List... this ancient settlement with a recorded history of iron smelting technology, flourishing trade, and strong political institution dates back to the 16thC....it has survived unchanged for many centuries...  with remarkable dry stone architecture, farmlands, paved walkways... and a magnificent stone Palace of the King, known as "Hidi" perched on a hill overlooking the rest of the community below... unfortunately this site has not been able to attract global tourists in large numbers due to failure to develop and promote the site... Thanks a lot Ahmed!!【ツ】

Sukur is located on a hill above the village of Sukur in the Adamawa State of in northeastern Nigeria. It is situated in the Mandara Mountains, close to the border with Cameroon.

The designated area comprises:
Hidi's Palace (ruined house complex of the chief)
Paved walkways
Domesticated landscape with extensive terraces (for agricultural use and spiritual significance)
Domestic architecture in the villages (granite and dry-stone)
Traditional cemeteries in the hills
Wells
Iron-smelting furnaces
(Ceramic) shrines

The Sukur Cultural Landscape was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1999.

Stamp:
Definitive hologram stamp
(Issued 09-10-2010)

National Theatre
(Issued 23-05-1990)

NIGERIA ~Cultural Dance~

HOORAY!!! A WRITTEN and STAMPED card from Nigeria arrived today!! The sender wrote that it is really difficult to find Nigeria views, but I don't mind... Any card from this "Hard-To-Get" country is amazing!!:D Love the colorful outfit of the dansers!
Nice stamps too!!

Music and dance are integral to Nigerian culture, and each ethnic group has its own specialties.Dance also has many varieties: Ishan stilt dancers in colourful costumes twist themselves in the air; while one Tiv dance, called ajo, features male dancers who work in pairs, and another involves teams of women who perform a dance called icough by composing songs about current events. Dance for the Ubakala shows their value system, helps resolve conflicts, and also institutes changes. Ekiti Yoruba dancers wear head masks so heavy that they can only do processional dances. The Hausa, who do not consider dancing to be a craft, divide their dances into the categories of social dancing and ceremonial bòorii dances.