Wrapper c. late 19th century

This wrapper was crafted by the Yoruba people and now resides in the Minneapolis Institute of Art. Notice the repeated motifs: vertical stripes and stylized tree-like shapes. These ‘trees’ are not mere botanical representations but echoes of the ‘Tree of Life,’ a symbol that reaches back to ancient Mesopotamia, resurfacing in myriad forms—from the sacred fig tree in Buddhist traditions to the Norse Yggdrasil. This image, deeply rooted in the collective unconscious, embodies notions of interconnectedness and spiritual growth. Like the pulse of life itself, the tree symbol reminds us of the cyclical progression of nature and culture. The tree connects us to the earthly and the divine, acting as a cultural memory connecting generations. This Yoruba wrapper, in its own way, participates in this grand, ongoing narrative.