Edo Figural Group Depicting Exile of Oba or King

A long canoe, a crested figure at its center, and men in brimmed hats on every side.

This figural group depicting the exile of an Oba, or king, is bronze, made by the Edo (Benin) peoples of the Benin Kingdom, Nigeria, West Africa, in the mid 20th century. The best known such exile followed the British capture of Benin City in 1897, when Oba Ovonramwen was sent away from his kingdom. Paddlers sit at both ends of the rough, dugout-like hull. Between them, figures face in different directions, one with a hand raised to its face, another lifting an arm overhead. 47.5 inches across and 14 inches high.

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