Accession Number
1998/1.64

Title
Ceremonial Sword

Artist(s)
Yoruba

Artist Nationality
Yoruba (culture or style)

Object Creation Date
20th century

Medium & Support
brass and wood

Dimensions
24 1/8 in x 6 1/2 in x 1 5/8 in (61.28 cm x 16.51 cm x 4.13 cm)

Credit Line
Gift of Susan B. and John F. Ullrich

Subject matter
This ceremonial sword may have been created to honor the Yoruba orisa (god) of iron and war, Ogun. If so, it may have been called ada Ogun, ada meaning "sword" in the Yoruba language. The use of iron in (what is today known as) Nigeria can be dated to 600 B.C.E., but it was also important to the Yoruba-speaking kingdom of Oyo around the 17th and 18th centuries. Iron weapons were necessary for the expansion and protection of the kingdom from neighboring empires such as the Fon kingdom of Dahomey to the west and the Edo kingdom of Benin to the east. Swords, like this object, were an important symbol of Ogun and were often seen at shrines dedicated to the orisa. They were also used in mock battles during the festival to celebrate Ogun in which the king and other titled men would take part.

References Cited: 

Barnes, Sandra T., ed. 1997. African Systems of Thought: Africa’s Ogun: Old World and New (2nd, Expanded Edition). Bloomington, IN: Indiana University Press. Accessed May 12, 2016. ProQuest ebrary.

Physical Description
A sword with a short cylindrical handle, wrapped with brass rings at the middle and end. The large, flat blade curves upward and is elaborately decorated with incised geometric patterns. 

Primary Object Classification
Metalwork

Primary Object Type
sword

Collection Area
African

Rights
If you are interested in using an image for a publication, please visit http://umma.umich.edu/request-image for more information and to fill out the online Image Rights and Reproductions Request Form. Keywords
ceremonial objects
ceremonial swords
knife
power
rulers (people)
symbols of office or status
wars