Ẹgba (bracelets) are worn as part of ceremonial costumes and could be made of brass, bronze, iron, ivory or wood. The material determines the status of the individual wearing it, as the Ọba controls the use and production of brass, bronze and ivory. Ẹgba is the designation used to describe bracelets worn around the upper arm that could potentially become amulets by putting charms or medicine in them.

Based on the information available today, it is not possible to know whether the Ẹgba were worn around the upper arm or the wrist, therefore it has been decided to group together all objects variously described as ‘bracelets’, ‘arm rings’, ‘armlets’ and ‘bangles’ are here as Ẹgba. Some bracelets may have been worn as a symbol or reflection of an individual’s political and/or social status – for example, brass bracelets with horse heads were worn only by the Ọba and certain powerful chiefs to show ‘dignity and achievement’ (Curnow in Plankensteiner, 2007, p.351

Meanwhile, others contain or may have been ‘cooked’ in medicine to serve specific functions, such as protection. According to Curnow (in Plankensteiner 2007, p.351

), ‘visible medicine’ would also have acted as a visual message declaring the ritual powers of the wearer.

Ẹgba

‘Ai yẹ ivie rue ewmin oya’ (You can’t wear Ivie if you are dishonourable)

Ivie are coral beads which today anyone can wear as a decorative body ornament. However, in the past only the Ọba could wear them, along with those he bestowed them upon, such as chiefs and members of the royal court. The Ọba has the exclusive right of granting any deserving citizen the honour of his beads. Even today there are special shapes that can only be worn by the Ọba and chiefs, such as flat circular-shaped beads called Ikele.

In English, the term bead is used to describe both Ivie and 

. These beads may have once been part of necklaces, crowns or other regalia worn and used by the Ọba, his wives, and other high-ranking dignitaries. It is not known whether such beads were once part of other objects and were separated after being looted in 1897, or whether they were single beads at the time and part of the loot. The red colour of these beads symbolises ‘power, blood and danger’ (Curnow in Plankensteiner 2007, p.380

) and is innately tied to the Ọba. These beads also speak to the wide-ranging trade networks that Benin Kingdom has been part of over time. Agate and jasper were imports from northern Africa via trans-Saharan networks, and it is thought that the Portuguese imported coral from the Mediterranean from the fifteenth century onwards.

Ivie

). Meanwhile, others contain or may have been ‘cooked’ in medicine to serve specific functions, such as protection. According to Curnow (in Plankensteiner 2007, p.351

Bracelet

Beads such as these may have once been part of necklaces, crowns or other regalia worn and used by the Ọba, his wives, and other high-ranking dignitaries. Two kinds of beads, known as Ivie and Ekan in Edo, have been identified by the Digital Benin team.

It is not known whether such beads were separated from other objects after being in 1897, or whether they were single beads at the time and part of the loot. The red colour of these beads symbolises ‘power, blood and danger’ (Curnow in Plankensteiner 2007, p.380

) and is innately tied to the Ọba. These beads also speak to the wide-ranging trade networks that Benin Kingdom has been part of over time. Agate and jasper were imported from northern Africa via trans-Saharan networks, and it is thought that the Portuguese imported coral from the Mediterranean from the fifteenth century onwards.

Bead

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)

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