Brass head of the Oba of
Benin
Edo peoples, 19th century
AD
From Benin, Nigeria
The king's divine
status
This head, typical of the late period in Benin
art, shows the Oba (king) of Benin wearing elaborate neck and hand
ornaments of coral. It is not a portrait of a particular Oba, but a
generic royal image. The royal palace of the Edo peoples was the
centre of their world and the Oba was believed to be descended from
the Creator God of Benin. The king was also considered to be the
counterpart, as ruler of the land, to the god Olokun, ruler of the
waters. The king's wealth and power is believed to
originate with the fifteenth-century Oba Ewuare, who is said to
have gone to the river and brought back the coral beads and riches
from Olokun's kingdom. This may, in fact, refer to the
arrival of Portuguese travellers in the fifteenth century who
brought coral from across the seas. Coral is of great significance
to the Edo peoples, as only the Oba wears coral, in a complete
costume of beadwork. They are said to contain the power of
ase, that is, whatever
is said with them in possession will happen. Thus they are the
emblem and insignia of the king's divine
status.
Commemorative brass
heads of deceased Obas or chiefs are placed in shrines dedicated to
royal ancestors. On the top of each head is placed an ivory tusk
with carved images of former kings, warrior chiefs, soldiers and
animals with symbolic royal powers.
P. Girshick Ben-Amos, The art of Benin (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)