Okpia is the Edo word for ‘male’. All figures which can be identified as male have been grouped here. The regalia and dress vary, and more research may enable the identification of the specific identities of these figures.

Men are much more commonly depicted in the arts of the Benin royal court than women. Such sculptures are cast in brass or are carved from ivory and wood.

Okpia

Figures of the Ọba, which is the title of the ruler of the Kingdom of Benin, would be used on ancestral altars within the royal palace. These are only cast in brass and carved in ivory, which illustrates their importance, as these two materials are considered highly valuable in the kingdom.

Although depictions of the Ọba are common in Benin royal artworks, particularly on relief plaques, pendant masks and pendant plaques, there are few single figures of the Ọba. The figures identified as the Ọba show a figure richly dressed with coral beads, particularly the high Odigba coral-bead collar. Oftentimes he wears a headdress with a single upwards projection from the crown.

Ọba

Okpia is the word for 'male' in Edo. All figures which can be identified as being male have been grouped here. The regalia and dress varies and more research may enable the identification of more specific identities of these figures.

Men are much more commonly depicted in Benin royal court arts than women. Such sculptures are cast in brass or are carved from ivory and wood.

Male Figure

King Figure

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland

The British Museum’s archives are held in various locations across the institution. The items listed here aim to give an overview of the main locations where relevant archival and photographic material relating to objects from the Kingdom of Benin is housed. Key areas relevant for cultural objects from the Kingdom of Benin are: Corporate Archives; Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas archives; Department of Britain, Europe and Prehistory archives; and the Anthropology Library and Research Centre.

Website

Department of Africa, Oceania and the Americas 

Online Catalogue

Library & Archive

British Museum

Internal Data (eng)

Ingram, A. 

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juju 

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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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