‘Ogiso ma m’ẹmwẹn ẹ fian agba’ (When the Ogiso does not have a case to judge, he will not ask for Agba to be made)

The Agba is regarded as the stool of judgement, and according to oral tradition, it originated during the Ogiso dynasty. In Benin Kingdom, there are two kinds of stools with ceremonial and ritual functions: the Agba and the 

. The Agba is rectangular in shape, with a carved panel forming the seat and four carved interconnected panels that serve as the legs. Agba may be used by the Ọba, chiefs and some priests, and it is believed they were carved by members of the Emada (Hess, 1983, p.41

). The Erhe has a circular seat and base with a central supporting column and can be cast in brass or carved in wood. Although a third kind of stool, the Ekete, has been identified in literature (e.g. Ezra 1992, p.263

), our own research indicates that the word means ‘throne’ and can be used to describe any kind of stool the Ọba may sit upon, thus both the Agba and Erhe could be Ekete as well. (Hess, 1983, p.41

Agba

In Benin Kingdom, there are two different kinds of stool that have ceremonial and ritual functions, these are the Agba and Erhe. Although a 3rd kind of stool, called 

, has been identified in literature (e.g. Ezra 1992, p.263

), our own research indicated this word means ‘throne’ and can be used to describe any kind of stool that the Ọba may sit upon, Thus both the Agba and Erhe could in fact be _Ekete _as well. The Agba is rectangular in shape, with a carved panel forming the seat and four carved interconnected panels that serve as the legs. Agba may be used by the Ọba, chiefs and some priests (Hess, 1983, p.41

). The Erhe is formed of a circular seat and base with a central supporting column and can be cast in brass or carved in wood.

Stool

United States of America

Website

Online Catalogue

Brooklyn Museum

Internal Data (eng)

Wikidata Link

Culin, Stewart

Ethnographer

Curator

Oldman, William Ockelford 

Dealer

Collector

Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund

Foundation

Patron

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Digital Benin linked field	Institution field	Value
object id	ObjectID	18158
designation, object type	Title	Top for a Stool (Agba)
description	Description	Carved rectangular board of hardwood. In the center a man holds ebere and a bifurcated scepter, ending in clenched hands, and wears a tunic and winged headdress of coral beads. Left of the figure is a synthesis of snake with fins or leaves coming from body. Right of the figure are a beaker, a leopard, and a bottle with handle. At each corner is a strip ornamented with three rosettes. Through each rosette is a wood dowel. Four grooves are excavated on the back to attach to panels (now missing) which would form the legs of the stool.
material	Medium	Wood, pigment, resin
dimensions	Dimensions	12 3/16 × 20 7/8 × 1 3/16 in. (31 × 53 × 3 cm)
inscriptions	Inscriptions
date made	Alpha Sort 2	1914-1926
date made	Begin Date	1914
production place	Geography	Place made: Benin City, Royal Court of Benin, Edo State, Nigeria, Africa
prior source	Credit Line	Museum Expedition1922, Robert B. Woodward Memorial Fund
provenance	Provenance	Prior to 1926, provenance not yet documented; by 1926, acquired by William O. Oldman, London; August 30, 1926, purchased from William O. Oldman by Stewart Culin in London for the Brooklyn Museum.
ethnic attribution	Alpha Sort	Edo
ethnic attribution	Maker	Edo
exhibition history	Exhibition History	New York City Board of Education, May 11, 1966 - unknown date.
bibliography	Published References
	Object Number	22.1522
	Sort Number	1922 1522

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