Uhunmwu-Elao (Bronze-cast)

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This brass head was commissioned by a newly crowned king to commemorate a previous ruler, likely his father. Mimicking the regal coral-beaded collar and cap, it served as a pedestal for a carved elephant tusk, symbolizing the king’s divine nature. In Benin culture, the head is a significant symbol of authority and power. Known as Uhunmwu Elao, these commemorative heads could be crafted from bronze, wood, or terra-cotta, and feature a central hole for the tusk’s insertion. Through these portraits, kings channeled their deified ancestors to protect their reign. The Uhunmwu-Elao heads were created to honor and commemorate deceased Obas (kings) and sometimes notable queens, and were placed on altars dedicated to these ancestors in the royal palace.

Source: Omorogbe, Aigbe. Uhunmwu-Elao, Bronze-cast (lost-wax), Private collection, Benin City.

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