moon

Uki

Moon
Description

The Uki (moon) is said to be associated with coolness, peace, and joy and to be more important than even Owẹn (the sun) ( ; ). The behaviour and nature of the moon were and are studied by the Iwoki, the guild of astrologists and meteorologists established by Ọba Esigie (c. 1504–50).

The Uki is usually depicted in crescent or half-moon form and appears on some of the Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn (bronze relief plaques), sometimes on its own as a corner motif and at other times as part of compositions with figures identified as being part of the Iwoki. Crescent forms of the moon are also used as part of the motifs decorating textiles and clothing worn by figures.

Objects with Uki

36 objects
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Armcuff
Institution
American Museum of Natural History
Ref. #
EB9
Edo designations
Ikoro
Altar Tableau
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
209795
Edo designations
Urhotọ
Restituted
Odudua Mask
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
210807
Edo designations
Aro Ododua
Restituted
Relief Plaque
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
211125
Edo designations
Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn
Restituted
Relief Plaque
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
211160
Edo designations
Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn
Restituted
Relief Plaque
Institution
Omo n'Oba n'Edo Uku Akpolokpolo, Ọba of Benin & National Commission for Museums and Monuments, Nigeria
ID
211933
Edo designations
Ama-Ẹrọnmwọn
Restituted

Oral histories related to Uki

1 interviews
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Sensitive Content

Digital Benin collates digital material from institutions, and some of this material is inherently colonial and contains words, terms and phrases that are inaccurate, derogatory and harmful towards African and African diasporic communities. Catalogue transcriptions, book titles, exhibition titles and museum titles may contain harmful terms. We recognise the potential for the material to cause physical and mental distress as well as evoke strong emotions. Owing to the scale of the collection’s data, a process to implement sensitive-content warnings in the displayed data is still incomplete. The material within the catalogue does not represent Digital Benin’s views. Digital Benin maintains a strong anti-colonial, anti-racist position and affirms its support for centring the humanity of historically marginalised and disenfranchised communities. Read more about the background of this statement here