Paddles such as those grouped here are often attributed to Benin Kingdom and Edo cultures in museum collections. However, paddles are not typically seen in Edo material culture and are more commonly associated with coastal communities and kingdoms such as the Urhobo, Ijo and Itsekiri. Some were even made by craftsmen for trade with Europeans around the end of the nineteenth and early twentieth century. It is possible these were acquired by the British as they travelled inland from the coast to Benin City before and after their expedition.

Ceremonial Paddle

Germany

Website

MARKK African collections

Photography Collection

MARKK Museum am Rothenbaum Kulturen und Künste der Welt

Internal Data I (ger)

Müller-Deicke, A. 

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juju 

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dwarf

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aboriginal

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tribe

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non-western

western-art

western museum

tribal

hofzwerg

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British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897

expedition

exotic

negro

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Black Africa

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primitive

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medicine man

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