Afo Horseman Figure on Custom Stand Nigeria

The Eloyi people (also known as Afo) live north of the Benue River and east of the Niger–Benue confluence in central Nigeria, to the southeast of present-day Nasarawa State. Traditionally organized in small, autonomous communities, the Eloyi maintained rich religious and ritual practices centered on ancestral veneration, initiation, and community protection.

Sculptural works attributed to the Eloyi are relatively rare and are often characterized by compact, expressive forms, attenuated proportions, and schematic facial features. Figures frequently appear in dynamic groupings that may reference social relationships, ritual performance, or symbolic authority, reflecting the close integration of art with spiritual and communal life.

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