The royal arts of the Benin Kingdom of south-central Nigeria focus on the centrality of the "Oba", or divine king, and this exhibit, organized by museums in Austria, Africa, Germany, the U.S., and France, traces the history of Benin's royal arts from the early 13th century to the mid-twentieth. On the exhibition's website there are ten themes to explore including "The Warrior Obas", "The Oba's Palace", and "Rituals at Court", and each theme is illustrated with selected objects. For example, an Ife, a foot-high, brass head of a man illustrates the "Mythic Origins" theme, dating from the 12th/15th century. Click on the theme "Oba Ewuare and the Portuguese" to see Oba's Fly Wisk (Ugbudian Ivie), 18th/19th century, an object that, despite its practical sounding name, is purely a luxury item, made of lovely red coral and agate, and weighing approximately five and a half pounds - far too heavy to swat a fly. Interactive and historical maps round out the experience and there are also several videos showing a 21st century artist at work and the Igue Festival, Benin City, 2002-2003.
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