This African mask from the 1500s is on display this fall of 2022 at the NYC Metropolitan Museum of Art as part of an exhibit on the African origins of civilization. Exquisitely carved from precious ivory, it provides testimony to one of Africa’s more recent civilizations, the Kingdom of Benin.
The capital city of Benin was burned to the ground by the British in the late 19th century, so this mask — designed to be worn as a pendant during certain rituals — is a rare piece of evidence for the longevity, success, and sophisticated artistry of the Benin governments.
The kingdom of Benin went through centuries of different incarnations in the forests of Western Africa from the 1200s-1800s, with the King or “Oba” leading with both secular and religious (he was thought to be semi-divine) authority.
The Obas also honored their mothers as critical political advisors who also possessed mystical powers. This ivory mask depicts one such mother, a woman named Idia, whose son Esigie was one of Benin’s most successful rulers.
Personally, I love her hair — it looks like a tiara with repeating shapes. Squint and you can make out the alternating mudfish and Portuguese-merchant heads! They symbolized prowess over water and land, and sources of wealth and prosperity.
