Oroka (finger rings) were often worn as amulets of protection. Priests or diviners affiliated with different deities may bless Oroka for different purposes, such as protection of the wearer.

Only a small number of Oroka are still known today in institutional collections. Even fewer of those are elaborate forms cast in brass and with coral inlays that would have been worn by the Ọba (Plankensteiner 2007. p.348

). There are a number of simpler forms, without coral, that may have been worn by women of the royal court.

Oroka

Only a small number of Oroka are still known today in museum collections. Even fewer of those are elaborate forms cast in brass and with coral inlays that would have been worn by the Ọba (Plankensteiner 2007. p.348

Finger Ring

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)

Wikidata Link

More info

Wellcome Institute for the History of Medicine, London

Museum

Donor

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 more about the background of this statement here.

juju 

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dwarf

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aboriginal

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tribe

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

DB_redacted_word

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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

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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.

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primitive

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medicine man

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