Idiophone: Bird of Prophecy (ahianmwen-oro)
Not on view
The bird perched with outstretched wings on the finials of the instruments sounded on the occasions of Ugie Oro court festivals is usually called the "bird of prophecy" (ahianmwen-oro) and sometimes the "messenger of god" (odibosa). Beginning with the reign of King Esigie in the sixteenth century, the sounding of clappers depicting the bird of prophecy at Ugie Oro court ceremonies was regarded as a sign that the kings of Benin were endowed with the power to alter history.
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