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)

British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897

Member of the British Colonial Military Campaign on Benin, February 1897

Wikidata Link

British Museum link

Egerton, Brian

Member of the Royal Navy

Family member of a participant in the British expedition on Benin

Le Clerc Egerton, George 

Soldier

Collected in the field

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tribe

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non-western

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expedition

exotic

negro

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Black Africa

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primitive

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medicine man

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