Iconographies

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Udahae

Beaded forehead band

See Udahae page

The Udahae is a forehead band made from coral beads and worn by chiefs. Sometimes a white Igan (feather) from the Oɛɣohɔ (vulturine fish eagle) is tucked into the left side of the Udahae. According to Benin oral tradition, the Udahae was introduced by Ọba Ezoti, the first son of Ọba Ewuare I. During his coronation, Ezoti was shot in the forehead with a poisoned arrow. To stop the bleeding, a band of red beads was wrapped around his forehead while he made public appearances. Fourteen days later, he died from his wound. Since then, Benin chiefs have worn the red-beaded Udahae around their foreheads to commemorate the cap used by Ezoti to stop the bleeding (Egharevba 1968, p. 21).

1 annotation

Provenance

5 events

Production

unknown to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

The object was produced by Unknown member(s) of the Igun-Ẹrọnmwọn guild in Benin City.

Looted

February 22, 1897 (day approximate) to June 1899 (year approximate)

The object was looted by February 1897 Unknown member of the British colonial military campaign on Benin from Benin Kingdom.

Purchase

1949 (approximate) to 1954

The object was purchased by Ernst F. Rohrer.

Inheritance

1954

The object was inherited by Ernst F. Rohrer community of heirs from Ernst F. Rohrer.

Gift

1995

The object was given as a gift by Ernst F. Rohrer community of heirs to the Bernisches Historisches Museum with its destination in Bern.

Institution data

Bernisches Historisches Museum

The data was transferred directly through the Swiss Benin Initiative.

Last updated: 2022-07-04

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Reg No. object id	E/1995.325.0389
Object name and materials designation	Hip ornament
Material material	brass / bronze
Dimension/s dimensions	H. 18.0 cm W. 11.0 cm D. 7.0 cm
Provisional dating date made	before 1954
Creditline prior source	Gift: Community of heirs, Dr. Ernst Rohrer.
Provenances provenance	dates unknown, possibly produced by the Royal Bronze-casting Guild (Igun Eronmwon) by the Royal Palace of Benin; [...] ; ca. 1949-1954 purchased by Ernst F. Rohrer; 1954-1995: community of heirs of Ernst F. Rohrer; 1995 gifted to Bernisches Historisches Museum by the community of heirs of Ernst F. Rohrer
Institution department and institution	BHM Bernisches Historisches Museum
Institution acquisition date accession date	1995

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Iconographies

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