This pendant mask was created in the early sixteenth century for an Oba named Esigie , in honor of his mother Idia. The face has softly modeled, naturalistic features, with graceful curves that echo the oval shape of the head. Four carved scarification marks, a number associated with females, indicate her gender.
What does the Benin mask represent?
This type of mask was worn by the Oba, on the hip, during important ceremonies. The mask is said to represent Idia, mother of Oba Esigie who ruled in the sixteenth century. The top of the hip mask is decorated with heads representing the Portuguese, symbolizing Benin’s alliance with and control over Europeans.
Who created the Benin ivory mask?
The Nigerian government was unsuccessful in securing a loan of the work from the British Museum, and commissioned Edo artist Erhabor Emokpae to recreate the mask as a 20-foot tall bronze centerpiece for the festival (on display at the National Arts Theatre since 1979).
What is the mask of Queen Idia made of?
The materials used to create the mask tell us more about Queen Idia—iron was used for the pupils and rims of her eyes as well as in the marks on her forehead, to show her inner strength, while the rest of her face was created from white ivory , which symbolizes purity.
What did Europeans use ivory from Benin for?
Early trade with Europeans
By the 16th century, Benin was trading pepper, gum, cloth, ivory and slaves with the Portuguese in exchange for brass, lead, iron, coral, cowrie shells (used for currency), firearms, spirits and luxury goods.
What is the Queen Mother of Benin called?
THE QUEEN MOTHER, or “Iyoba ,” was a powerful figure in the Edo kingdom of Benin, which ruled parts of the West African coast for seven centuries. This statue of the Benin Queen Mother named Idia was cast in bronze using the lost wax process, PM object AF5102.
Why is the Benin ivory mask important?
The pendant mask is believed to have been produced in the early sixteenth century for the King or ObaEsigie, the king of Benin, to honor his mother, Idia . The oba may have worn it at rites commemorating his mother, although today such pendants are worn at annual ceremonies of spiritual renewal and purification.
Who is the current king of Benin?
| Ewuare II | Reign 2016–present | Predecessor Erediauwa | Born 20 October 1953 | Spouses 5 |
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What is an Iyoba How was she important?
To reward and honor her, Esigie created a new position within the court called the iyoba, or queen mother, which gave her significant political privileges , including a separate residence with its own staff. As mother of the king, Idia and later iyobas wielded considerable power.
How do I identify an African mask?
Check the back of the mask for wear , including the holes for fastening the mask on the face. The wearer does a lot of moving in his dances, and contact between body and wood can leave sweat and oil stains. 2. Look for wear from forehead, cheeks, chins and noses.
How old is the Benin Kingdom?
| Kingdom of Benin Edo | History | • Established 1180 | • Annexed by the United Kingdom 1897 | Area |
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What is the Oba?
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Oba means ruler in the Yoruba and Bini languages of West Africa . Kings in Yorubaland, a region which is in the modern republics of Benin, Nigeria and Togo, make use of it as a pre-nominal honorific.
Who or what does the Mudfish symbolize in Benin iconography?
Among their pantheon of sacred symbols, the Benin viewed the mudfish (Pylodictis Olivaris or flat-head catfish) as a symbol of power, transformation, and royalty .
Why is ivory so sought after?
Q: What makes ivory so precious? It has no intrinsic value, but its cultural uses make ivory highly prized . In Africa, it has been a status symbol for millennia because it comes from elephants, a highly respected animal, and because it is fairly easy to carve into works of art.
What is the illegal ivory trade?
The ivory trade is the commercial , often illegal trade in the ivory tusks of the hippopotamus, walrus, narwhal, mammoth, and most commonly, African and Asian elephants. Ivory has been traded for hundreds of years by people in Africa and Asia, resulting in restrictions and bans.
Which African country suffered most from imperialism economic exploitation for rubber and ivory?
Belgian Brutality
During the short colonial rule of the Congo Free State from 1885-1908, Belgium’s ruthless rubber industry and exploitation of the Congolese people as slave laborers to produce rubber caused the deaths of 10 million Congolese.
