Band 9

Only a very few Edo visit the secret shrine served by the priest shown on this band. The shrine is dedicated to the gods who helped the first Oba's father. The Edo believe these spirits are responsible for Benin's welfare. The tall narrow headdress worn by this priest honors those who can trace their origins to Ile-Ife, the sacred Yoruba city where the first Oba's father was born. Attendants holding staffs stand at the priest's side.

A descending serpent suggests the magical forces that surround the shrine. The priest holds a brass pot like the speaking pot taken by an oba from the underwater palace of the god Olokun. To learn more about the speaking pot, read the legend in the case entitled Divine kingship.

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