Sheath for ọ̀pá Oko (Oko’s staff)
The signature emblem of Oko, the òrìṣà (deity) of agriculture, is a staff forged by a blacksmith from worn farming implements. Petitions for healing, justice, prosperity, and safe childbirth are directed toward that insignia through the medium of a priestess. Forbidden from touching the ground, the staff would be set inside an open calabash and fed harvested yam, kola nuts, and other offerings. This genre of beaded sheath was used to clothe the staff when it was ritually inactive. Though not a king in life, Oko is frequently honored through visual references to birds, crowns, and other attributes of authority. Triangular flaps affixed along the perimeter of these sheaths signal the presence of the divine, while knot-like motifs composed of interwoven lines evoke the eternal cycle of life, death, and rebirth.
Artwork Details
- Title: Sheath for ọ̀pá Oko (Oko’s staff)
- Artist: Yoruba bead artist
- Date: Late 19th–early 20th century
- Geography: Southwest Nigeria
- Culture: Yoruba peoples
- Medium: Cloth, glass beads
- Dimensions: H. 58 3/8 in. x W. 13 1/2 in. x D. 4 in.
- Classification: Textiles-Beadwork
- Credit Line: Gift of Carol B. Kenney, in memory of Jerome P. Kenney, 2025
- Object Number: 2025.97.3
- Curatorial Department: The Michael C. Rockefeller Wing
More Artwork
A slider containing 5 items.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Press the down key to skip to the last item.
Yoruba bead artist
19th–20th century
Yoruba bead artist
late 19th–early 20th century
Yoruba bead artist
Late 19th–early 20th century
Yoruba bead artist
Late 19th–early 20th century
Yoruba bead artist
Late 19th–early 20th century
Research Resources
The Met provides unparalleled resources for research and welcomes an international community of students and scholars. The Met's Open Access API is where creators and researchers can connect to the The Met collection. Open Access data and public domain images are available for unrestricted commercial and noncommercial use without permission or fee.
To request images under copyright and other restrictions, please use this Image Request form.
Feedback
We continue to research and examine historical and cultural context for objects in The Met collection. If you have comments or questions about this object record, please complete and submit this form. The Museum looks forward to receiving your comments.