lepokäsoina

Lepokäsinä refers to a traditional Nigerian artistic style. It is primarily associated with the Ogoni people of the Niger Delta region. The name "lepokäsinä" roughly translates to "take a gun" or "be strong with a gun," possibly signifying the importance of firearms in this cultural tradition.

Lepokäsinä encompasses a wide range of artwork, predominantly comprising depictions of Ogoni mythology, ancestral figures, and mythological encounters. The artistic style involves intricate patterns, abstract figures, and geometric shapes created using palm oil or mud. The designs often feature animals and spirits in elaborate settings on wooden boards.

Artists from the Ogoni people's indigenous communities have historically created lepokäsinä pieces to be showcased in public areas and marketplaces. They serve as both individual expressions of the artist's craft and community records of myths and oral traditions.

These artworks can be found on wooden surfaces in particular, such as wooden boards, doors, or parts of buildings. The term "lepokäsinä" also relates to the way artists render versatile imagery across the artworks. Each piece they create is uniquely inflected by traditional Ogoni modes of storytelling and palm oil techniques.

Critics suggest that lepokäsinä art refuses to create explicit boundaries between character and surroundings and mythology and history.