Ẹzuzu (fans) were particularly important when it came to the comfort of the Ọba and other high-ranking individuals, such as the 

. In the past, at least two servants were always with the Ọba to fan him, although today the use of fans is more symbolic. Some fans were specially decorated with mirrors and used specifically by Olokun devotees. Fans are usually made from skins, antelope or cow, with embroidered appliqué designs made by the Isekpokin (Roth, 1903, p.123

). Highly decorated fans were used by the Ọba and chiefs, and fans made from leopard skin with certain patterns were made only for the Ọba.

While smaller fans could be considered everyday domestic items, larger fans would have been a symbol of high status and may have had ritual importance too (Dolz in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.319

). In addition to hide specimens, a small number of large brass fans is held in institutional collections which would likely have been used by and for the royal family on ancestral altars. As well as seen today during ceremonies, scenes depicting this are common on altar tableaux, and depictions of Ẹzuzu themselves are also on a number of relief plaques.

Ẹzuzu

Ẹzuzu (fans) were particularly important when it came to the comfort of the Ọba and other high-ranking individuals, such as the Iy’Ọba. In the past, at least two servants were always with the Ọba to fan him, although today the use of fans is more symbolic. Some fans were specially decorated with mirrors and used specifically by Olokun devotees. Fans are usually made from skins, antelope or cow, with embroidered appliqué designs made by the Isekpokin (Roth, 1903, p.123

). In addition to hide specimens, a small number of large brass fans is held in museum collections which would likely have been used by and for the royal family on ancestral altars. As well as seen today during ceremonies, scenes depicting this are common on altar tableaux, and depictions of Ẹzuzu themselves are also on a number of relief plaques.

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

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Royal Pavilion & Museums Trust

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Digital Benin linked field	Institution field	Value
object id	Acc/ID Number	WA503000
designation	Object Name	Fan
description	Description	Circular with stiffener and handle. Handle covering and fan in one piece. Applique decoration on front of conventionalized figures in open work with flannel backing chain stitched. With hide thong.
description	Description/Acquisition Overview	Museum catalogue archeology register (Africa 2nd Page)- 'AF50 Abebe Fan', 'West Coast, Africa'.
material	Materials	Hide; Wood; Cotton
dimensions	Measurements	0460/0375/0000
object type	Record Type	From Documentation
date made	Date Created
production place	Place Created	Benin, West Africa, Africa; Mid-West; Nigeria, West Africa, Africa; African West
prior source	Credit Line
prior source	Donor	Anon
provenance	Collector
provenance	Object (hi)story	DV(AH)
date collected	Date Collected
place collected	Place Collected
ethnic attribution	Cultural Grp	Edo; Bini
department and institution	Department	World Art
accession date	Acquistion date	pre 1900??
notes	New research info 2022
exhibition history	Ext Exhib History
legal status	Legal Status	PERMANENT COLLECTION
	Creator
	Documentation Issues
	History file contents
	Loan Allowed?
	Other no.	none

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