Iconographies

1 annotations

Emẹ

Monkey

See Emẹ page

Emẹ is the generic term for monkeys in Edo (Ọbazee 2025, p. 99). They appear much less frequently than other animals, shown either in full form, crouching or resting on their haunches, with their arms threaded around or resting on their knees; in other cases, only their faces are depicted.

The monkey is associated with success and good fortune (Blackmun 1984, p. 158). In the early 1980s, Paula Ben-Amos (in Blackmun 1984) suggested that Emẹ are associated with the Ehi (personal destiny), “particularly when the Ehi guides one steadily upwards towards success.” Paraphrasing Osemwegie Ebohon (1979, p. 46), Barbara Blackmun (1984) also described a connection between Ọba Ewuare the Great and Emẹ based on a praise name for the warrior king: “the thin headed monkey who hurled himself at his foes.” Emẹ, along with frogs, are also used in palace rituals to promote success in battle (Girshick Ben-Amos 1999, p. 106).

1 annotation

Provenance

3 events

Production

1500 (year approximate) to February 22, 1897 (day approximate)

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

Unknown

1951 to 1961

The object is known to have come into contact with Robert Elwyn Bradbury, in Benin City.

Unknown

1960

The object is known to have come into contact with Robert Elwyn Bradbury and the Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria, in Benin City.

Institution data

Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

The data was transferred directly by the institution and digitized by Digital Benin in collaboration with the NCMM

Last updated: 2023-11-30

Languages: english, bini; edo

Institution field	Value
Catalog Number object id	60B:1:27
Material material	Bronze
Dimension H (cm) dimensions	6
Dimension W (cm) dimensions	5.7
Dimension L (cm) dimensions	12.3
Description description	Ẹroro are an important part of the spiritual worship of Benin people. They are lined along the front of the ancestral altar and are used to summon the ancestors to join their descendants and partake in the ceremony. In English, the term bell is used to describe the objects described as Ẹroro as well as Aza. Most bells are Ẹroro and are made from brass and less commonly ivory. The clappers can be made of brass/bronze, iron, bone or wood. Ẹroro, which are quadrangular in form, were also depicted in other objects, such as plaques and sculptures of individuals. These offer an insight into how such objects were used and indeed worn, usually as part of regalia worn by the Ọba, chiefs and warriors. For example, quadrangular bells are seen being worn around the necks of warriors on relief plaques.
P.N. object id	60:1:19
Object count object count	1
Associated Guild producer	Igun Ẹrọnmwọn
Production Place production place	Benin City
URL weblink	https://digitalbenin.org/catalogue/36_60B127
Production Technique production technique	Casting
Diameter dimensions
Title designation
Date Made date made
Inscription inscriptions
fileNames	60B127_3.jpg, 60B127_4.jpg, 60B127_1.jpg, 60B127_5.jpg, 60B127_2.jpg, 60B127_6.jpg

Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria

The data was transferred directly from the institution and transcribed by the Digital Benin from Catalogue Cards.

Last updated: 2021-01-15

Language: english

Institution field	Value
Catalogue No object id	60B:1:27
Description description	A bronze bell known as Eroro in Edo language. It is made to have a human head at one of side the object part of the object is damaged on one side, It also has a holder at the upper part. It has some cubic and zero designs on the body.
Material material	Bronze
Diam dimensions
Dimension H (cm) dimensions	12
Dimension L (cm) dimensions
Dimension W (cm) dimensions
Weight KG weight	0.5
Classification object type	Bronze Bell (Eroro)
Patina and colour colour	Brown
Method of Manufacture production technique	Casting
State production place	Bendel
Later Notes provenance	Mr. Bradbury's collection
Vendor provenance
Ethnic Group ethnic attribution	Edo
Division department and institution
Condition Incl condition	Good
Photo Number images	2:34:10
P.N.	60:1:19
Price
Signature of Cataloguer	Wale A.

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