Accession Number1998/1.89
TitleCeremonial Sword
Artist(s)Edo (Benin);
Benin (ancient Nigerian)Artist NationalityEdo (African culture)Object Creation Date20th centuryMedium & Supportbrass, iron and wireDimensions 35 1/16 in x 5 1/2 in x 2 15/16 in (89 cm x 14 cm x 7.5 cm)
Credit LineGift of Susan B. and John F. UllrichSubject matterThe saber-shaped ceremonial sword, called
ada in the Edo language, has a long history of use by the rulers of the kingdom of Benin (in what is today the Edo State of Nigeria). The blade is made of iron, which has the power of
ase, to ensure that any proclamations made would come to pass. Although this was (and still is) an object of status and loyalty to the king, or
oba, it was not normally carried by the
oba or high-ranking chiefs. Rather, pages called
emada carried the
ada for the
oba during public appearances. Chiefs who were granted this privilege could have the
ada carried next to them in their own domain, but not within the royal palace, the
oba's domain. In the precolonial past, the
ada also represented the
oba's right to take a human life. When not is use, these swords were sometimes displayed as a part of shrines or altars for ancestors.
References Cited:
Ben-Amos, Paula Girshick. 1995.
The Art of Benin. Washington, D.C.: Smithsonian Institution Press.
Ezra, Kate. 1992.
Royal Art of Benin: The Perls Collection in the Metropolitan Museum of Art. New York: Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Physical DescriptionMetal sword with a blade that is narrow toward the handle and wider and curved at the top. The handle is wrapped in wire, with disc-shaped grips on either side.
Primary Object Classification Arms and Armor Primary Object TypeswordCollection AreaAfricanRightsIf 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
ada
bearing swords
ceremonial swords
power
regalia
royalty (nobility)
symbols of office or status
