Iconographies

1 annotations

Ahianmwẹ

Birds

See Ahianmwẹ page

A variety of different kinds of Ahianmwẹ (birds) were depicted by artists from the palace guilds on royal artefacts over the centuries. The precise identification and interpretation of these birds, and the meanings attributed to them, vary. Some of the most commonly depicted are the Akala (white-backed vulture), Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle), and Esughusughu (owl).

The Akala is usually depicted on top of Osogan, potent staffs kept by priests for the worship of Osun. Its ewawa (beak) is associated with the azen (witches), and the Akala is associated with “death, abandonment, morbidity, and spoils” ( ). The Oɛɣohɔ is known as the “king of the day birds,” and its feathers are often worn by chiefs in their headwear as symbols of respected old age and proper chieftaincy ( ).

1 annotation

Provenance

4 events

Production

1500 (year approximate) to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.

Looted

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)

The object was looted by Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin - February 1897 from Benin Kingdom.

Unknown

1964 to 1977

The object is known to have come into contact with Emile Deletaille, later in City of Brussels.

Purchase

1977

The object was purchased by the MIM Musical Instrument Museum from Emile Deletaille in City of Brussels.

Institution data

MIM Musical Instrument Museum

The data was transferred directly by the institution.

Last updated: 2021-03-05

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Object number object id	1977.046
Object name designation	Bell
Notes description	SCHA1977: "Benin", "Yoruba" Kegelvormige klok in brons bovenaan afgerond. Op de klok is een ronde staaf met daarop een vogel. De onderrand is versierd met een gevlochten koord. In de klok is een lus in metaal waaraan de klepel is gehangen.
Mat./Tech. material	Material : Bronze
Dimensions dimensions	Dimensions H x W x D: 11 x 30.4 x 10.6 cm
From…To date made	before 1977
Object History prior source	Museum acquisition, Emile DeletailleVendeur, Purchase, 1977
Author/Culture ethnic attribution	Unknown Edo/Bini, Bouwer; Yoruba, Bevolking; Unknown Yoruba, Bouwer; Edo/Bini, Bevolking
Depository department and institution	Collection Musical Instruments, Musée des Instruments de Musique
Owner legal status	Royal Museums of Art and History
CC-Licence license	CC BY-NC-SA 4.0
Classifications	111.242.122 (Individual) clapper bells
Geo. Ref.	Production place : Nigeria

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