Eddygourdo:
and you have evidences that linked all stolen art to homes of Kings and not commoners? Nigerian education is very limited as it makes people not to think for themselves. Please Mr man. Thousands of art abound from different ages. And diverse climes. The art is the key and it was stolen from wherever they were found. It's not surprising most were found in Kings palaces or in ransacked shrines. Well my mention of the shrine retaliates my earlier post on gods

1897
Over the centuries, Benin had years of greatness and suffered times of turmoil, but a single event divides ancient from modern Benin. James Phillips, a British official in the Niger Coast Protectorate, led an unarmed expedition to Benin City in January 1897 to enforce trade agreements and a ban on reported human sacrifice. To prevent the British party from interfering with annual royal rituals, some chiefs ordered, against Oba Ovonramwen’s wishes, warriors to attack the expedition. Six British officials and almost 200 African porters were killed.

England responded immediately, mounting a “punitive expedition” to capture Benin City. The palace was burned and looted in February 1897, and the oba was exiled to Old Calabar. To break the power of the monarchy and to end ritual practices, the British confiscated all of the royal art treasures, giving some to individual officers but taking most to auction in London to pay for the cost of the expedition.

Now I agree one has to think from a critical perspective. But could you kindly present your own evidence of Bristish troop ransacking homes of commoners..

Chief S.O. Alonge – History of Benin
Home | History of Benin | Early Photography in Nigeria | S.O. Alonge: The Early Years | Ideal Studio, Benin City | Picturing a New Society | Ideal Studio Portraits | Ideal Studio Setting | Royal Court Photography | Commemorative Objects

The kingdom of Benin, home of the Edo-speaking peoples, is located in the tropical rain forest region of what is now Nigeria. An oba, or king, and his court have, from around 1300 C.E., governed the kingdom from Benin City, the capital. Within the kingdom, specialized artists belonged to guilds with hereditary membership and worked solely for the oba. Today, the current oba, Oba Erediauwa I, retains a court and employs royal artists to produce the courtly arts of bronze casting and ivory carvings.

Archaeological excavations, oral histories kept by court and guild officials, narratives, and trade records from European travelers—as well as thousands of works of art—reveal the ancient history of Benin. In the early 1600s, Dutch geographer Olfert Dapper described the royal palace of the Benin court as having “beautiful and long square galleries about as big as the exchange at Amsterdam, some bigger than others, resting on wooden pillars, covered from top to bottom with cast copper, on which deeds of war and battle scenes are carved.” Later travelers’ accounts did not mention the plaques; the British, however, found them in a storehouse when they sacked the palace in 1897 during the Benin punitive expedition.

Commemorative head of a king
Edo artist, Benin kingdom court style, Nigeria
Commemorative head of a king
19th century
Copper alloy
38.1 x 24.4 x 27 cm (15 x 9 5/8 x 10 5/8 in.)
Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn to the Smithsonian Institution in 1966, 85-19-7

An emphasis on elaborate regalia is typical of 19th-century Benin art. Cast objects are often large and heavy as well. Symbols of royal power and sacrifice—kola nuts, elephant trunks, leopards, and mythical fish—decorate the base of the head.
Bell
Edo artist, Benin kingdom court style, Nigeria
Bell
18th century
Copper alloy, iron
21.6 x 12.1 x 12.1 cm (8 1/2 x 4 3/4 x 4 3/4 in.)
Gift of Joseph H. Hirshhorn to the Smithsonian Institution in 1979, 85-19-22

This type of bell, identified by its distinctive four-sided, flat-topped shape, was once placed on an ancestral altar in the royal palace. Its shape is thought to resemble the palace roof turrets. Benin warriors wore smaller versions of these bells on their chests, as can be seen on the plaques that formerly covered the piers in the palace courtyard. The sound of the bells identified Benin warriors in battle, served as a sign of the spiritual protection of the king, and spread terror among the enemy.
Royal Plaques of the Benin Kingdom
This corpus of reliefs represents the most impressive and unique art treasure from the continent of Africa. Each plaque is individually modeled and cast. Some plaques depict scenes, such as battles, hunts, or court ceremonies. Most have one or two male figures in court regalia. Today, over 900 plaques reside in public and private collections.

British Punitive Expedition of 1897
Over the centuries, Benin had years of greatness and suffered times of turmoil, but a single event divides ancient from modern Benin. James Phillips, a British official in the Niger Coast Protectorate, led an unarmed expedition to Benin City in January 1897 to enforce trade agreements and a ban on reported human sacrifice. To prevent the British party from interfering with annual royal rituals, some chiefs ordered, against Oba Ovonramwen’s wishes, warriors to attack the expedition. Six British officials and almost 200 African porters were killed.

England responded immediately, mounting a “punitive expedition” to capture Benin City. The palace was burned and looted in February 1897, and the oba was exiled to Old Calabar. To break the power of the monarchy and to end ritual practices, the British confiscated all of the royal art treasures, giving some to individual officers but taking most to auction in London to pay for the cost of the expedition.

Plaque
Edo artist, Benin kingdom court style, Nigeria
Plaque
Mid-16th to 17th century
Copper alloy
45.6 x 35 x 8.9 cm (17 15/16 x 13 3/4 x 3 1/2 in.)
Purchased with funds provided by the Smithsonian Collections Acquisition Program, 82-5-3

Musicians and a court page holding a fanlike sword (eben) flank a high-ranking warrior, possibly a war chief or the oba. The half figures depict Portuguese soldiers or traders.

themonk:
how is it a benin statue, when it is called "okukor" which means cock in ibo.

Yoruba, Edo and igbo share lots of linguistic similarities
it's probably an edo word as much as it is igbo

GooseBaba:


And all that would have happened because the original owners are stupid or the zoo the thieves created has run amok.

Almost every human being is born with some form of disadvantage or the other. Our job as human beings is to rise above those difficulties. Your post can be akin to a thief who blames his profession to the lack of education he had, or the that he wants to feed his kids. That is the thought process of lazy people who never take responsibility for their actions or the the lack of it.

daywatcher:
They told us our indigenous religions and cultures were backwards while they simultaneously stole from us and dumped us with christianity

the Brit that stole it even renamed himself after cockerel ALCOCK (akuko , in Yoruba)

Bollinger:


Almost every human being is born with some form of disadvantage or the other. Our job as human beings is to rise above those difficulties. Your post can be akin to a thief who blames his profession to the lack of education he had, or the that he wants to feed his kids. That is the thought process of lazy people who never take responsibility for their actions or the the lack of it.

Kindly clarify. I don't understand your post... I hope you read the post I was replying.

GooseBaba:


Kindly clarify. I don't understand your post... I hope you read the post I was replying.

I assume the "original" s.tupid owners in you post are the colonialists, right?

Bollinger:


I assume the "original" s.tupid owners in you post are the colonialists, right?

No! Go back and read the post I was replying.

How can the original owners be colonialist '!?

themonk:
how is it a benin statue, when it is called "okukor" which means cock in ibo.

okukor means Cock in Benin too

VajanahDischaj:
wtf!!!ordinary stone?

And what are you? Ordinary dust. You see a piece of history that show that your fore fathers were not as daft as your white masters would want you to believe but your brain is so self-conscious dead that it cannot reason. They claim superiority in everything but they looted from the presumed inferior race. Evidence that they saw superior art to what they call art in their clime at that period. They actually stunted and halted our development. Today we follow them in calling this artifact art works, they may even be scientific items relevant to the period they were developed. Be proud of your heritage.

Why is APGA not in the forefront holding talks for the #BBOO (Bring back our okukor)

Pls dont return this statue to this country now. We are not stable and so nt ready to receive this kind of artifact when we are still faced by our own challenges. Moreover we will only treat this priceless piece of art in Nigeria as valueless because we don't give any regards for art unlike our white counterparts who value it so much. Pls give us when every part of the nation is stable and responsible.


Magna[b]B[/b] has spoken

Akuko in Yoruba.

dhardline:
Okukor means chicken in Igbo language.What a coincidence.

its not a coincidence! They can't really trace the exact place they looted that artifact from just as they did to many others we've never even heard of same with the slave trade.

That's one of the many relics of the crimes and sins committed against Africa, and the denial of Africa's potential and humanity.

At times I laugh when I hear other tribes insult the great bini empire but everyday evidence keeps coming up to show that the empire was indeed a great one.

The Nigerian government should sit up and create a world class tourist center for artefacts like this and watch people from all over the world come to Nigeria for stuff like this.

Blueray:


And what are you? Ordinary dust. You see a piece of history that show that your fore fathers were not as daft as your white masters would want you to believe but your brain is so self-conscious dead that it cannot reason. They claim superiority in everything but they looted from the presumed inferior race. Evidence that they saw superior art to what they call art in their clime at that period. They actually stunted and halted our development. Today we follow them in calling this artifact art works, they may even be scientific items relevant to the period they were developed. Be proud of your heritage.blablablablablabla

it's still just a piece of stone... init?

That is clearly Nri bronze work and not benin...Btw Benin no dey use Okukor

Bring back our coc.k?

Mama charlie, respect yourself & order your people to return our chiken asap o!......or else, wetin happen for 19b.c go happen again o!

themonk:
how is it a benin statue, when it is called "okukor" which means cock in ibo.

are u from kenya

GooseBaba:



1897
Over the centuries, Benin had years of greatness and suffered times of turmoil, but a single event divides ancient from modern Benin. James Phillips, a British official in the Niger Coast Protectorate, led an unarmed expedition to Benin City in January 1897 to enforce trade agreements and a ban on reported human sacrifice. To prevent the British party from interfering with annual royal rituals, some chiefs ordered, against Oba Ovonramwen’s wishes, warriors to attack the expedition. Six British officials and almost 200 African porters were killed.

England responded immediately, mounting a “punitive expedition” to capture Benin City. The palace was burned and looted in February 1897, and the oba was exiled to Old Calabar. To break the power of the monarchy and to end ritual practices, the British confiscated all of the royal art treasures, giving some to individual officers but taking most to auction in London to pay for the cost of the expedition.

Now I agree one has to think from a critical perspective. But could you kindly present your own evidence of Bristish troop ransacking homes of commoners..

that is one scenario that explains some stolen artifacts, others would probably have been stolen from other kingdoms asides the bini Kingdom, others were likely taken from shrines and lastly from the home of commoners. Art and artefact abound. Many of little importance and some of high value. The Cockerell is questions cannot be proven to a fact you have been from the story you just gave and thus could have come from somewhere else. Many artifacts where gotten from archealogical excavations of burial sites of Kings. Kings where known to have been buried with their treasures. Even great warriors and wrestlers of the time were buried with artifacts.

This points out my earlier comment. Why did the artisans make the artifacts. For prized possession? For worship? Or for aesthetics. Being that powerful men where buried with their idols in those days. Is it thus surprising their graves where filled with artifacts eg their gods?

GooseBaba:


This is just pitiful..

If that be the case (african of that age)then you must agree that the image of Christ, the cross and the bible is idol worshipping. The kabal is idol worshipping. Because both parties would be upset if you desecrate this object.

Kindly tell me which african God or idol you worship. So I can deduct if you're speaking from experience or just regurgitating some rubbish you read in a book.

now I will explain to you in simple terms you can understand. The rosary when I the market place, is simply an object to be bought and sold. When a Catholic buys it. He uses it for prayers. But first he blesses it by the priest. By virtue of using it for prayers, it's a mere tool. Then after prayers thus same Catholic is about to fornicate. He ensures he removes this rosary from his neck in order not to offend God, the symbolism of his action is that God lives in that rosary, this same Catholic decides to travel or retire for bed at night. And before he does that he ensures he wears this so called rosary for protection. He would argue that evil spirits cannot hate hi so far he is wearing it. The symbolism of that means God is in the rosary and would protect him. Thus the rosary has been considered a tool and a diety all by the same person in different scenarios that suit his wants. Therefore the symbolism of that rosary to the wearer is that God is with him.

This is very much the same as the common idol in the shrine, it's a tool bearing semblance with a chi and also symbolises the presence of god. Thus from the moment of its use it is treated as a god, sacrifices offered up it in symbolism with offerings to their god, plus the abode of the idol treated sacred in reference to their god.

Young man in african religion there are many parts of the chi. Thus many parts are represented by distinct idol form which represent their identity with their chi and most times this images show conformity in different climes in Africa.

I hope this is simple enough to understand

rusher14:
BBOC
Bring Back Our Chicken.

hahahahahaha; The best

dhardline:
Okukor means chicken in Igbo language.What a coincidence.

The pronunciations is different

rusher14:
BBOC
Bring Back Our Chicken.

rusher14:
BBOC
Bring Back Our Chicken.

Nigeria no send the statue of chicken ooo make uk de rock am jare

Luciferlove:
That is clearly Nri bronze work and not benin...Btw Benin no dey use Okukor

Nri ko Nri ni na who dash una, look the Europeans ain't no fools they know exactly where it was taken from and if you must know there are so many stolen Benin bronze in Europe.

And you should also know that they are so many similarities in benin,Yoruba and igbo languages.

Eddygourdo:
now I will explain to you in simple terms you can understand. The rosary when I the market place, is simply an object to be bought and sold. When a Catholic buys it. He uses it for prayers. But first he blesses it by the priest. By virtue of using it for prayers, it's a mere tool. Then after prayers thus same Catholic is about to fornicate. He ensures he removes this rosary from his neck in order not to offend God, the symbolism of his action is that God lives in that rosary, this same Catholic decides to travel or retire for bed at night. And before he does that he ensures he wears this so called rosary for protection. He would argue that evil spirits cannot hate hi so far he is wearing it. The symbolism of that means God is in the rosary and would protect him. Thus the rosary has been considered a tool and a diety all by the same person in different scenarios that suit his wants. Therefore the symbolism of that rosary to the wearer is that God is with him.

This is very much the same as the common idol in the shrine, it's a tool bearing semblance with a chi and also symbolises the presence of god. Thus from the moment of its use it is treated as a god, sacrifices offered up it in symbolism with offerings to their god, plus the abode of the idol treated sacred in reference to their god.

Young man in african religion there are many parts of the chi. Thus many parts are represented by distinct idol form which represent their identity with their chi and most times this images show conformity in different climes in Africa.

I hope this is simple enough to understand

Clearly you are regurgitating...

Your initial statement was terming the artifacts as the "Gods". I corrected you that it's not a God, but a medium of worship. And a medium can be used anyhow the practitioners sees fit. Giving sacrifice to the Gods via the artifacts does not make the artifacts a God. An outsider cannot come and tell you how to manage your affairs.

People light candles in front of statues in churches. Does that mode of sacrifice make the statue their God. The adherents of the Koran have killed people who desecrate a Koran does that make the book their God.

So it's settled. Your initial post was daft. It clearly shows that you don't understand or know the purpose of the artifacts in relation to actual worship. You were simply running your mouth because you read a couple of books.

[quote author=themonk post=44349107]how is it a benin statue, when it is called "okukor" which means cock in ibo.[/quote



COCK IN BENIN IS OKOKOR" don't mind the Europeans who can't spell properly.

Eddygourdo:
that is one scenario that explains some stolen artifacts, others would probably have been stolen from other kingdoms asides the bini Kingdom, others were likely taken from shrines and lastly from the home of commoners. Art and artefact abound. Many of little importance and some of high value. The Cockerell is questions cannot be proven to a fact you have been from the story you just gave and thus could have come from somewhere else. Many artifacts where gotten from archealogical excavations of burial sites of Kings. Kings where known to have been buried with their treasures. Even great warriors and wrestlers of the time were buried with artifacts.

This points out my earlier comment. Why did the artisans make the artifacts. For prized possession? For worship? Or for aesthetics. Being that powerful men where buried with their idols in those days. Is it thus surprising their graves where filled with artifacts eg their gods?

Story story STORY... Present your evidence of colonialist ravaging the homes of commoners and taking great treasures. Or forever remain daft.

rusher14:
BBOC
Bring Back Our Chicken.

Tell them oo! Our cock wants to come back home.