Oba

Examples of Oba in the following topics:

• Benin

  • Typically made from bronze, brass, clay, ivory, terracotta, or wood, works of art were produced mainly for the court of the Oba (king) of Benin.
  • One of the most common artifacts today is the ivory mask based on Queen Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie who ruled from 1504-1550.
  • In 1936, Oba Akenzua II began a movement to return the art to its place of origin; Nigeria bought around 50 bronzes from the British Museum between the 1950s and 1970s, and has repeatedly called for the return of the remainder.
  • Pendant ivory mask of Queen Idia (Iyoba ne Esigie (meaning: Queenmother of Oba Esigie)), court of Benin, 16th century (Metropolitan Museum of Art)
  • The image in the plaque consists of an Oba (king) surrounded by his subjects.

• Ile-Ife and Benin Sculpture

  • Iconic imagery depicted religious, social, and cultural issues that were central to their beliefs, and many bronze plaques featured representations of the Oba.
  • One of the most common artifacts today is the ivory mask based on Queen Idia, the mother of Oba Esigie who ruled from 1504-1550.
  • In 1936, Oba Akenzua II began a movement to return the art to its place of origin.
  • The image in the plaque consists of an Oba (king) surrounded by his subjects.
  • Iyoba ne Esigie (meaning: Queen mother of Oba Esigie), court of Benin, 16th century.

• Benin

  • Typically made from bronze, brass, clay, ivory, terracotta or wood, most art was produced at the court of the Oba (king) and was used to illustrate achievements of the empire or to narrate mythical stories.
  • Iconic imagery depicted religious, social and cultural issues that were central to their beliefs, and many bronze plaques featured representations of the Oba.

• The Benin Bronzes

  • In 1936, Oba Akenzua II, the traditional leader of the Edo people in Nigeria, began a movement to return the art to its proper place in Nigeria; however, only two of the 3,000 bronzes were returned by the end of his reign in 1978.
  • As a courtly art, their principal objective was to glorify the Oba—the divine king—and the history of his imperial power or to honor the queen mother.

• The Yoruba States

  • The mythical origins of the Oyo Empire lie with Oranyan (also known as Oranmiyan), the second prince of Ile-Ife, who made Oyo his new kingdom and became the first oba  with the title of Alaafin of Oyo (Alaafin means 'owner of the palace' in Yoruba).
  • Oranyan was succeeded by Oba Ajaka but he was deposed, because he allowed his sub-chiefs too much independence.
  • Oba Ofinran succeeded in regaining Oyo's original territory from the Nupe.
  • The next oba, Eguguojo, conquered nearly all of Yorubaland.
  • The Oyo Mesi (seven councilors of the states) and the Yoruba Earth cult known as Ogboni kept the Oba's power in check.

• Leadership

  • Other kingdoms were ruled by kings or priest kings: for example the Yoruba city-state of Ife established its government under a priestly oba ("king") called the Ooni of Ife.

• Ancient Africa

  • The Ife, historically the first of the Yoruba city-states or kingdoms, established government under a priestly oba ('king' or 'ruler').