Ẹkpede (crossbows) were introduced by the Portuguese, although the Edo people already had and used Uhambọ and 

. Archery was introduced at the same time as the Ẹkpede.

From around 1440 onwards, during the era of the warrior kings the Benin armies became increasingly specialised. The formation of dedicated units of archers or bowmen with extensive training was part of these developments (Osadolor, 2001, p.20

). In addition to full-size Ẹkpede, miniature versions are also held in museum collections. These would have been made in iron by members of the Igun-Ematon and placed on altars to Ake, the deity of archery, or Ogun, the deity of war (Dark, 1973, p.54-55

Ẹkpẹde

Ẹkpede (crossbows) were introduced by the Portuguese, although the Edo people already had and used Uhambọ and Ifẹnmwẹ. Archery was introduced at the same time as the Ẹkpede.

Crossbow

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

Website

Online Catalogue

Manuscript collections

Photographs, sound, film and archive collections 

Pitt Rivers Museum

Internal Data (eng)

Martin, G. F. 

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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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