Situated in the south-central region of the nation, Kwara state is home to the little town of ESIE. The main reason for its fame is that it is the location of Africa’s largest collection of stone carvings. A hunter found these stone engravings for the first time in 1775. Many theories have been proposed to explain the Esie figurines, but their exact origins are still unknown. In an alternate history of Esié, these insurgent settlers were said to be from a different Yoruba tribe and had sent word to Elesie, the traditional chief of Esie land, that they intended to settle down in his town. However, to their great dismay, they were met with no one to receive them, so they chose to settle outside of the city of Esie.
It was subsequently discovered that these settlers were a threat to the city’s security. The deity of the land, who was siding with Elesie of Esie, transformed the 800 obstinate settlers into stone statues because they were preparing to mutiny and were undermining the chief’s authority. Soapstone, or steatite stone, is used to make the figures. The figurines were arranged in a circle when they were discovered. They show people in sitting or kneeling positions, including ladies, men, kids, and animals. Some are clinging to their musical instruments or farming implements. The heights of the figurines differ.
The pieces were carved sometime between the 12th and the 15th century, according to estimates. According to some academics, the figures are connected to a nearby ancient Yoruba country. The figures were formerly a community of people who were cursed by the gods and turned into stone, according to a common theory about the engravings. In 1933, the Esie figurines came to the attention of the general public due to the work of a Nigerian missionary named H.G. Ramshaw. Near the location of the figurines, a museum was constructed in 1945; it was Nigeria’s first official museum.
More figurines are buried at the site, according to more recent excavation. As of right now, estimations range from 1,000 to 1,500 figurines in total. Additionally, the Nigerian National Museum in Lagos and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York both house figures from Esie.
