Ẹkpẹtin describes boxes of different shapes and sizes used as storage for different articles. They were usually carved from wood by members of the Igbesamwan and designed with different relief patterns of animal and human figures. Some may also have been used as stools.

Ẹkpẹtin are one of two types of boxes identified here – the second are the cylindrical 

. Ẹkpẹtin is used more generally to describe other kinds of boxes in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials. Although some may have been utilitarian, a number had ceremonial and ritual significance, indicated by their highly decorated exteriors.

Ẹkpẹtin

Boxes in a variety of sizes, shapes and materials are part of the arts of the Benin royal court. Although some may have been utilitarian, a number had ceremonial and ritual significance. Most are identified as Ẹkpẹtin in Edo. The depiction of certain kinds, such as the distinctive cylindrical lidded Ẹkpoki, which are seen being held by members of the royal court on relief plaques and altar tableaux, illustrate the ceremonial importance of the boxes made by the leather workers guild, which were sometimes covered with decorated brass sheeting. According to Ben-Amos (1995, p.108

), these boxes would be used to bring gifts to the Ọba towards the end of the Ague festival. Rectangular carved wooden boxes, carved antelope-head boxes (sometimes embellished with brass sheeting), brass boxes in the form of animals and oval carved-ivory boxes are also within the spectrum of the arts of the royal court.

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

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.