OBA of Benin Staff

  VINTAGE WOODEN OBA OF BENIN STAFF
DESCRIPTION: In the Benin kingdom of southern Nigeria, rattle staffs, or ukhurhe, are an essential feature of Benin ancestral altars, whether for kings, chiefs, or commoners. These staff have a hollow rattle chamber near the summit, and they are shaken while uttering prayers at the altars to attract the attention of the ancestors. Ukhurhe may be made of wooden or brass, although the brass examples are found only on royal altars.
TITLE:Oba of Benin staff
DATE:Origin of generation
GEOGRAPHY:Benin kingdom
CULTURE: Oba authority to ancestral altar
MEDIUM: Wood
ARTIST:Unknown