Ahianmwẹ-Ọrọ

The Ahianmwẹ-Ọrọ, meaning ‘bird of prophecy’ in English, is a bird with a long beak, the cry of which is said to be prophetic. If it cries ‘OyaO’ (disgrace), it portends danger or disaster. If it cries ‘Oliguegue’ (be grateful), it portends good favour, fortune or luck. If it persistently cries ‘OyaO, OyaO’ in front of someone, it is prophesying that the person should be cautious and should not undergo a journey or should return home rather than continue on. But if the bird cries ‘Oliguegue’ continuously, the journey will be favourable. The bird is believed to be a messenger of the spirit world.

In 1515, as Ọba Ẹsigie passed through the gates of Benin on his way to fight the Attah of Idah, the Ahianmwẹ-Ọrọ made discouraging sounds overhead, ‘OyaO, OyaO’, portending that disaster lay ahead. The Ọba ordered the bird killed and went on to win the war. He said, ‘Nẹ O gha yin Agbon, ghẹi daho Ahianmwẹ notiẹ oya’ (Whoever wishes to succeed in life should not heed the bird of prophecy). On the Ọba’s triumphant return from battle, he commissioned the Igun-Eronmwon to make an image of the bird on a bronze head of a battle standard to remind it that the Ọba was not subject to the fate of ordinary spirits.

Ahianmwẹ-Ọrọ is used to describe bird of prophecy staffs and bird of prophecy figures. Bird of prophecy staffs are a kind of idiophone or musical instrument. Although the representation of the bird which sits atop these staffs varies, it is recognized as the Ahianmwẹ-Ọrọ. These staffs are used during the annual Ugie Oro, when chiefs strike the beak of the bird to honour Benin’s victory and the ongoing power of the Ọba. These staffs are cast in brass or, in a smaller number of cases, carved from ivory. Bird of prophecy figures are cast in brass or bronze – their exact purpose is not clear, though it is possible they were used on altars or shrines.