Ẹgba (bracelets) are worn as part of ceremonial costumes and could be made of brass, bronze, iron, ivory or wood. The material determines the status of the individual wearing it, as the Ọba controls the use and production of brass, bronze and ivory. Ẹgba is the designation used to describe bracelets worn around the upper arm that could potentially become amulets by putting charms or medicine in them.

Based on the information available today, it is not possible to know whether the Ẹgba were worn around the upper arm or the wrist, therefore it has been decided to group together all objects variously described as ‘bracelets’, ‘arm rings’, ‘armlets’ and ‘bangles’ are here as Ẹgba. Some bracelets may have been worn as a symbol or reflection of an individual’s political and/or social status – for example, brass bracelets with horse heads were worn only by the Ọba and certain powerful chiefs to show ‘dignity and achievement’ (Curnow in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.351

Meanwhile, others contain or may have been ‘cooked’ in medicine to serve specific functions, such as protection. According to Curnow (in Plankensteiner 2007, p.351

), ‘visible medicine’ would also have acted as a visual message declaring the ritual powers of the wearer.

Ẹgba

). Meanwhile, others contain or may have been ‘cooked’ in medicine to serve specific functions, such as protection. According to Curnow (in Plankensteiner 2007, p.351

Bracelet

Austria

Website

Online Catalogue

Weltmuseum Wien

Internal Data (ger)

Maschmann, Wilhelm Albert

Intermediary

Dealer

Suggestion: The word juju in itself is not harmful in as much as it refers to the belief system. It can be used in a harmful or derogatory way and is context dependent. Please assess the context of this word as a user of the platform.

 more about the background of this statement here.

juju 

Suggestion: Replace with, “a person of short stature,” “little person” or "someone with dwarfism". (See 

Read more about the background of this statement here.

dwarf

Suggestion: Replace with First Nations, First people, or particular community name. (See 

aboriginal

Suggestion: Replace with the name of the particular community and delete where it is used to reference an already identified group, e.g Igbo ~~tribe.~~

tribe

This word was redacted from the catalogue as a derogatory racialised word.

DB_redacted_word

Suggestion: Be as specific as possible in terms of country, population etc. (See 

non-western

western-art

western museum

tribal

hofzwerg

For more information on this term and its violent and inherently harmful context to indigenous communities, see 

British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897

expedition

exotic

negro

Suggestion: Replace with the word Africa.

Black Africa

Warning: This word is used in a historic context of a title for a book, exhibition, institution name or book description etc. We recognise the potential for the material to cause physical and mental distress as well as evoke strong emotions. The material within the catalogue does not represent Digital Benin’s views. Digital Benin maintains a strong anti-colonial, anti-racist position and affirms its support for centring the humanity of historically marginalised and disenfranchised communities.

Read more about the background of this statement here

primitive

Suggestion: Replace with traditional healer, spiritual healer, or specific name that particular communities use to define this role. (See 

medicine man

Suggestion: Replace in cases where it used to describe human beings, with the term indigenous communities, first people or particular community name.