The Oba: Leopard of the house

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These two Leopards of the house, also known as Ekpen N’owa are from around the 16th century. The leopards are about 69 centimeters in length, and filled with a lot of detail. The two leopards are extremely identical. The details in the faces are all long exaggerated, especially the snout. The felines are baring their teeth, showing off their long fangs. The other small details such as the whiskers, nose, and ears are delicate. The eyes of the cats are angular and the general expressions of them seem to be happy and smiling. The rest of their bodies show strong form of the wild cats, details in the paws, and texture of fur throughout the bodies, all made from bonze. The purposes of these two leopards are to be used as water vessels, called aquamanile. These vessels are used in making ritual ablutions by pouring water that comes out the nostrils of the leopards. The leopards are displayed on royal ancestral altars and used by the Oba. The Oba of Benin is a sacred monarch; it is believed that he is a living connection to the powerful realm of ancestors and deities. The Oba would use the aquamanile when he would prepare himself for the Ugiw Erha Oba ceremony. The purpose of this ceremony was to honor the Oba’s deceased father. Leopard imagery is also often connected to the Oba’s military might. The Oba’s devine right to rule is repeated in his regalia. The Oba would lead leopards in processions as symbols of his control over his counterpart. His counterpart is Girshick Ben-Amos, the King of the forest. Leopards were very popular in Benin art. There was a guild of leopard hunters that would capture leopards. Some of them were tamed and trained while others were sacrificed.

https://africa.uima.uiowa.edu/media/photos/show/2575?back=media%2Findex%3FChapter%3D23%26MediaType%3DImage%26action_%3DUse%2BFilter

 

 

 

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