The Pokia Family: Guardians of Memory and Ritual The Pokia family, hailing from the Kalabari Ijo people of Nigeria’s Niger Delta region, stands as a testament to the enduring power of craft and ritual. For nearly five centuries, this lineage has been entrusted with creating the ‘ancestral screen,’ a profoundly significant object within Kalabari culture – a complex tapestry woven from wood, wicker, pigment, and iron, representing far more than mere decoration. These screens weren’t simply displayed; they were integral to family life, serving as focal points for storytelling, ancestor venerati…