Photos- Nigerian Arts And Crafts On Display At The British Museum

Brass helmet mask for the Ododua ritual

Edo peoples, 18th century AD
From Benin, Nigeria

In addition to his executive powers and duties, the Oba (king) of Benin also performed a number of rituals throughout the year. Guilds of specialists such as drummers, shield-bearers, carvers, brass-casters and weavers provided regalia and ritual objects. The cycle of ceremonies coincides with the agricultural cycle, but they are also concerned with the strengthening of the kingdom.

The first festival of the year is the Ikhurhe which is performed to purify the land in preparation for planting. This is followed by the Bead Festival, Ugie Ivie, in remembrance of ancestral warrior kings. The two most important rituals are the Ugie Erha Oba, in honour of the king's deceased father, and the Igue which strengthens the king's mystical powers. Igue includes the presentation of gifts by the Oba to his chiefs, dances in ceremonial costumes, animal sacrifices to the king, and the application of magical substances onto his body. On the last day children carry torches to drive away evil spirits from the town and gather ewere leaves or 'leaves of joy' on the outskirts of the town which are then taken home as symbols of hope and happiness.

This brass helmet is used in the Ododua ritual, in honour of the father of Oranmiyan, the legendary founder of the ruling dynasty. The dance is performed by seven masqueraders who wear brass helmets and carry ceremonial swords to signify their high status. They dance back and forth before the Oba seven times as a sign of their commitment and loyalty.
P. Girshick Ben-Amos, The art of Benin (London, The British Museum Press, 1995) more pic after the cut



Brass head for use in the worship of Osun

Edo peoples, 18th century AD
From Benin, Nigeria

Osun is one of a number of deities worshipped in Benin. His power lies in plants of the forests. Magical specialists, or ebo, use herbs and plants to create magical or medicinal potions.

In the eighteenth century, the Obas (kings) of Benin developed a new form of representing their magical and mystical powers through brass heads such as these. This example has snakes issuing from the eyes and nostrils, and a crown of birds, both creatures being closely associated with Osun. Birds were often sited on the top of palaces and have prophetic and protective powers. The stone axes on the forehead are associated with lightning and its destructive powers.

P. Girshick Ben-Amos, The art of Benin (London, The British Museum Press, 1995)

I came across these amazing works, after visiting the British Museum this week. And in as much as majority of them were stolen, and the UK makes a decent amount of money off the exhibition of these wonderful works - it's amazing that the handlers at the British museum have been able to keep everything intact.

Arts and crafts represent civilisation and the consciousness of the people at a point in history - just to show how evolved they were. And most of these works were made without contacts with other races - pure indigenous genius and creativity. Evidently, from that perspective - it shows people in present day Nigeria were just as civilised as the rest of the world.

what do think?