Final answer:
The Kalabari people in Nigeria create wooden sculptures chiefly as spiritual receptacles for religious ceremonies and cultural heritage preservation.
Step-by-step explanation:
The Kalabari of southern Nigeria carve wooden sculptures primarily to serve as houses for spirits. These sculptures are considered essential in various religious rituals and often depict deities or ancestral figures. Like many West African artistic traditions, the sculptures are a critical part of the cultural heritage, connecting current generations with past traditions and honoring spiritual beliefs.
Crafting wooden sculptures also fulfills the need for cultural continuity, and stands as a testament to resilience against external forces, be they environmental challenges or historical encounters such as European colonialism. However, the notion of Soviet colonization is incorrect, as the Kalabari's history of colonization and cultural threats would predominantly be associated with European powers, notably the British during the colonial period in Nigeria.