African Art: The Benin Bronzes

The British Museum has some beautiful works of art with a very bloody history in its collection. They're called the Benin bronzes. We decided to find out more about them...

Benin is now part of a country called Nigeria in West Africa. But over 100 years ago, it was a powerful kingdom. Benin traded pepper, ivory, leopard skins and even people - slaves - with Europe.

In 1897, when the King of Benin tried to control the trading, British soldiers fought back and seized treasures from the king's palace.

This isn't an English soldier but a Benin bronze of a Portuguese soldier. Fierce isn't he?! How do you think the artist who made this felt about the soldiers?


© British Museum

Here's another of the bronzes, this time a brass plaque. It would have decorated a pillar in the Benin palace.

Which one do you think might be the King? Yep, he's in the middle.

Can you see how the artist makes the King look most important by putting him in the middle of the plaque?

How else does he look more important?

© British Museum

Here's a brass head of the King, called the Oba. You can see him more clearly on Explore, part of the British Museum website.

The Oba is wearing a crown and coral beads. The beads were rare and valuable.


© British Museum

The story goes that an ancient Oba of Benin once beat the sea-god, Olokun, in a fight. The Oba took Olokun's coral as his prize.

Do you know what coral looks like? This necklace from Algeria has coral in it - the pinky-red bits. It's beautiful isn't it?

© British Museum

What do you think Olokun might have looked like? He was linked with crocodiles, the 'policemen of the waters'.

To give you some idea, here's the forest god, Osun. He's got snakes coming out of his nose and a crown of birds!


© British Museum

The British Museum's Explore has lots more photos of Benin artefacts and facts to find out. Why not take a look?

© British Museum

Or, why not visit the Pitt Rivers Museum in Oxford to see their Benin artefacts?

On their website you can find out why leopards, crocodiles and snakes were so important in Benin culture.

The Oba even kept leopards as pets! This is a pendant mask of a leopard's head.


© Pitt Rivers Museum

Why don't you have a go at drawing a picture of Olokun, the Sea-god? Or you could design a plaque with your face on it, like the King of Benin!

Send your works of art to us at Show Me. We can't wait to see your African inspired masterpieces!