Head of an Oba. Benin, Nigeria

The Oba is the traditional ruler and the custodian of the culture of the Edo people of the Kingdom of Benin. The people believed that the Obas were descended from the gods. As a result, the Obas were treated with great respect. The rite of ancestor cult was pervasive throughout Benin. The idolization of a deceased relative, in the case of royalty, also served to establish a continuity of rightful rule.

The Obas used symbols in their art to justify their power. The power and wealth of the Oba are signified by his jewellery and ornamentation. In characteristic Benin style, necklaces rise to Oba’s lips, symbolising his fortune. He wears a crown that covers his head like a net. A feather rises from the right side of his crown. This image would have been worshipped on a special altar, invoking his spirit that was believed to play an active role in the lives of his lineage and the community.