, an anklet which has integral rattles. The rattle pellet is made from fibre originating from the Urua palm (

). Each rattle is about 5 cm in diameter and contains two or three Esalobo grains. According to oral tradition, Eguen anklets were introduced into Benin by Ogiso Ere in the tenth century. Elubasẹ are worn by children as a way to track their movements.

As early as 1899, Read and Dalton commented that the anklets worn by figures on plaques were a signifier of high rank. Today, anklets continue to signify social status – the Ọba wears many ivory and coral anklets up his calves as part of his ceremonial regalia (Okpokunu, Agbontaen‐Eghafona & Ojo, 2005, p.162

). However, anklets were not the preserve of the Ọba alone, and different kinds and quantities were worn by other members of the royal court and Edo people. For example, Flora Kaplan (2006, p.85

 Aghahowa N’Errua, who took her title in 1981, in which she wears coral anklets as one of a number of insignia of her newly invested high rank. In contrast, brass anklets would be worn by young male attendants to the Ọba (see attendant figure), such as sword bearers or Omada pages (Kaplan, 2006, p.90

Elubasẹ/Isevbere

Anklets are worn around the ankles or calves and can be made from beads, ivory, brass or cast in iron. Although museums use the word anklet is used to describe these objects in English, in Edo there are two terms: Ẹguẹn and Elubase. Some anklets have integrated rattles or crotal bell attachments. As early as 1899, Read and Dalton commented on how anklets worn by figures on plaques were a signifier of high rank. Today, anklets continue to signify social status, and the Ọba wears many ivory and coral anklets to his calves as part of his ceremonial regalia (Okpokunu, Agbontaen‐Eghafona & Ojo, 2005, p.162

) described a photograph of Iyoba Aghahowa N’Errua, who took her title in 1981, in which she wears coral anklets as one of several insignia of her newly invested high rank. In contrast, brass anklets would be worn by young male attendants to the Ọba (see ‘attendant figure’) such as sword bearers or Omada pages (Kaplan, 2006, p.90

Anklet

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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