ObjectID
198929
Edo designations
English designations
Commemorative Head
Categories
Altar & Shrine Objects
Heads
Location
37 Quai Branly, 75007 Paris, France
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Iconographies

4 annotations
Udahae
Beaded forehead band

The Udahae is a forehead band made from coral beads and worn by chiefs. Sometimes a white Igan (feather) from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) is tucked into the left side of the Udahae. According to Benin oral tradition, the Udahae was introduced by Ọba Ezoti, the first son of Ọba Ewuare I. During his coronation, Ezoti was shot in the forehead with a poisoned arrow. To stop the bleeding, a band of red beads was wrapped around his forehead while he made public appearances. Fourteen days later, he died from his wound. Since then, Benin chiefs have worn the red-beaded Udahae around their foreheads to commemorate the cap used by Ezoti to stop the bleeding (Egharevba 1968, p. 21).

1 annotation
Udahae
Ikharo
Forehead markings

Ikharo are linear keloid markings depicted on the forehead of Uhunmwu-Elao (commemorative heads) in groups of three or four above each eye. The exact meaning of Ikharo is debated; some have argued that they relate to the gender or tribal identification of the person on whom they are depicted. For example, has argued that they were worn only by men; however, their use in depictions is not consistent with this, and the Iy’Ọba are also shown wearing them. argued that they are instead a stylistic feature employed by artists that varied over time.

The naming of these markings differs between publications. For example, describe these markings as “agbaguda n'ehae”, which they write translates literally as “blades of the forehead”. However, later went on to call these “ikharo”, as used here. referred to these forehead markings as ikharo, meaning “tribal mark [of eye]”.

1 annotation
Ikharo
Colar Bead
Odigba
Coral beaded collar

Odigba (coral-beaded collar) is a rigid neck collar made of coral beads, worn as part of ceremonial attire only by senior princes who have been made Enigie (Inneh 2007, p. 107). Although Ibafe (2007, p. 43) argued that the Odigba was introduced during the Ogiso period (c. 900–c. 1170 AD) by Ogiso Ere, along with other symbolically important Emwin Arhe, such as the Ada (ceremonial sword) and the Ẹbẹn (ceremonial sword), this seems unlikely, as coral was only introduced in the late 15th century through trade with Portuguese merchants.

1 annotation
Odigba
Igan
Feather

Igan (feathers) are commonly depicted tucked into the headdresses and hats of chiefs represented on Emwin Arre (royal treasures). These feathers are from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) and symbolise respected old age and proper chieftaincy ( ).

1 annotation
Igan

Provenance

5 events
Production
unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)
The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igbesamwan 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.
Exhibition
1900
The object was exhibited by Comité de la Côte-d'Ivoire at Paris.
Donation
1900
The object was donated by Comité de la Côte-d'Ivoire to Paris Musée d'Ethnographie du Trocadéro with its destination in Paris.
Rehoused
2003 to 2006
The object was rehoused by Paris Musée national des Arts d'Afrique et d'Océanie (MNAAO) in Paris.

Related archival documents

1 documents
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Image not provided by the institution.
Accession Record
musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
73.1964.5 (La Reine Margot)
Date
December 6, 1963

Institution data

musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
The data was transferred directly by the institution.
Last updated: 2022-09-27
Language: french
Institution fieldValue
Numéro d'objet
object id
71.1900.44.1
ObjectID
object id
198929
Tri titres
designation
Tête anthropomorphe
Description
description
Tête de chef en bois. Hachures représentant une coiffure en perles. De chaque côte de la tête, deux anses, sculptées en chevrons. Au-dessus de l'oreille gauche, figuration d'une plume. Marques es et pupilles en bois noir incrusté. Ouverture derrière la tête et au sommet de l'occiput.
Matériaux et techniques
material
production technique
Bois
Dimensions
dimensions
40 x 16,5 x 19 cm, 2766 g
Date
date made
avant 1900
Toponyme
production place
Afrique > Afrique occidentale > Nigéria
Unité patrimoniale
production place
Afrique
Provenance historique
provenance
Autres numéros : 50591 M.E : Sans renseignement, 50591 : MET - Inventaire, 00.44.1 : MH - Inventaire, 00.45.1 : MH - Inventaire (numéro erroné).
Culture
ethnic attribution
Ethnonyme
ethnic attribution
Edo
Date d'entrée dans les collections nationales
accession date
1900-12-03 00:00:00
Mode d'entrée
accession method
Don manuel
Statut de l'objet
display status
Inscription à l'inventaire
Bibliographie
bibliography
Références publiées
bibliography
Crédits photographiques
license
musée du quai Branly - Jacques Chirac
Donateur
Comité de la Côte d'Ivoire, Exposition universelle de 1900
Usage
Tête en bois pour le culte aux ancêtres placée sur un autel cheffal
Sensitive Content

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