Àkpólú

Waist beads
Description

Àkpólú, also spelt Àkpólo, are strings of coral beads worn around the lower waist or hips by women and girls ( ; Ọbazee 2025, p. 23). Before colonial rule in the Benin Kingdom, children were traditionally not permitted to wear clothing until the Ọba gave them cloth to wear; the Àkpólú was an exception to this practice, allowing children to wear these coral bead strands around the waist ( ).

Objects with Àkpólú

17 objects
See all
112_19891566
Institution
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Accession Number
1989.1566
Edo designations
Okhuo
Female Figure
Institution
Indianapolis Museum of Art at Newfields
Accession Number
1989.816
Edo designations
Okhuo
Female Figure
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
210445
Edo designations
Okhuo
Restituted
Relief Plaque
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
212021
Edo designations
Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn
Restituted
Attendant Figure
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
212518
Edo designations
Ibierugha
Restituted
Male Figure
Institution
Weltkulturen Museum Frankfurt am Main
Inventory no. [ObjInventarNrS]
25161
Edo designations
Okpia
Sensitive Content

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