What does the OBA have around his neck?
A tubular bead collar covers his chin and neck. An elephant tusk, carved using techniques acquired through trade with the Portuguese, once protruded from the hole on top of his head. The oba possessed political and religious authority and held sweeping powers over his subjects.
Why does the Oba in Benin create brass commemorative heads?
The use of brass for commemorative heads dates to the fifteenth century, as a way for the Oranmiyan Dynasty rules to distinguish themselves from the previous dynasty of rules.
Who created Head of an Oba?
Stephan Wolohojian, Harvard Art Museum (Cambridge, 2008), p. 82, repr. “Head of an Oba (Unidentified Artist) , 1937.38,” Harvard Art Museums collections online, Jun 26, 2022, https://hvrd.art/o/230607.
Who was the first Oba of Benin?
Eweka
The first oba, or king, in Benin was Eweka. He was the son of the prince from Ife. The kingdom reached its greatest power and size under Oba Ewuare the Great. He expanded the kingdom and improved the capital, present-day Benin City; the city was defined by massive walls.
Who made the Queen Mother pendant mask?
Esigie rewarded his key political and mystical advisor during these trials, his mother Idia, with the title of Iyoba (Queen Mother)—the first in a tradition of Queen Mother advisors. The identification with Idia was made by Oba Akenzua II in the mid-20th century.
Where were most of the Ife heads found?
The location was in Wunmonije Compound in the city of Ife, in what is now south-western Nigeria. This accidental find led to the eventual discovery of seventeen heads in brass and copper and the broken top half of a king figure. This magnificent brass head was one of those discovered in Wunmonije Compound.
What did the British steal from Nigeria?
Britain’s Queen received a Benin bronze head as a gift by Nigerian general Yakubu Gowon during a state visit in the 1970s. The head had been looted from Nigeria’s national museum in Lagos after it had been purchased back from Britain in the 1950s.
How much are the Benin Bronzes worth?
The 20th century brought better documentation alongside a swell of interest in “tribal art.” Auction prices for Benin Bronzes started around GBP 5,500 in the 1950s (around USD 209,000 today). Those figures climbed steadily through the 20th century. In 2007, Sotheby’s sold a Benin head sculpture for $4.7 million.
Where does the name oba come from?
The name Oba is primarily a male name of African – Nigeria origin that means King.
How was oba made?
The leaders of the kingdom of Benin in present-day Nigeria trace their origins to a ruling dynasty that began in the fourteenth century. The title of “oba,” or king, is passed on to the firstborn son of each successive king of Benin at the time of his death.
Who is the oldest Oba in Nigeria?
Ọba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna (born 10 May 1934) is the Awujalẹ of the Ijẹbu Kingdom, a traditional state in Nigeria. He was installed as the king on 2 April 1960, which makes him one of the longest reigning monarchs in Nigeria….Sikiru Kayode Adetona.
Ọba Sikiru Kayọde Adetọna, Ọgbagba Agbotewole II | |
---|---|
Mother | Ajibabi Adetọna (née Ọnaṣhile) |
What do the Mudfish in the Queen Mother pendant mask represent?
Because they live both on land and in the water, mudfish represent the king’s dual nature as human and divine. Having come from across the seas, the Portuguese were considered denizens of the spirit realm who brought wealth and power to the “oba”.
How much is the Benin mask worth?
IN London on February 17, Sotheby’s will sell a rediscovered 16th century Benin ivory mask – and five other rare works from the Kingdom of Benin in Nigeria – consigned by the family of a key participant in the controversial Punitive Expedition. The mask alone is estimated at £3.5m-4.5m.
Why are there holes in the bronze Ife heads near the mouth?
These brass heads differ from the terracotta ones in that they all have holes around the hairline and on their necks, and some have holes on the face. A bead was found in one of the holes, and scholars conclude the holes were used to attach a beaded veil to hide the mouth (Drewal, Schildkrout 2009).
What are the hole in neck of Ife heads probably for?
Around the mouth there are a series of small holes. Again, we can’t be quite certain what these are for, but they were possibly used to attach a beaded veil that would hide the mouth and the lower part of the face.
How much money did Britain take from Africa?
They collectively control over $1 trillion worth of Africa’s most valuable resources. The UK government has used its power and influence to ensure that British mining companies have access to Africa’s raw materials. This was the case during the colonial period and is still the case today.
How many Benin Bronzes have been returned?
Two Benin bronzes
Two Benin bronzes have been returned to a traditional palace in Nigeria, more than a century after they were pillaged by British troops, raising hopes that thousands more artefacts could finally be returned to their ancestral home.