Commemorative Altars
 

Home

 

Queen Mothers

   Beginnings: The
Legend of Idia

   Attendants

   Commemorative
altars
       Brass Heads
       Altar Tableau
       Altar of the Hand

Ritual: Gelede

 

Gender Roles

 

Sources

 

African Art Homepage

            When a queen mother dies, her son the Oba, commemorates her with an altar, usually set up in a special compound or area dedicated to the queen mother.  On this altar are placed items like cast brass heads and altar tableaus that depict the queen mother in procession.  The current king makes sacrifices to his mother at this altar during private annual ceremonies.  These altars honor the high ranking queen as she held a position of powerful authority and was vital to the survival of the kingdom in her role as protector. (1)

http://www.randafricanart.com/Benin_bronze_hip_masks.html
Benin (Nigeria). 
The palace altar to
King Ovonramwen (r. 1888-97)

            Although this altar pictured here is for a king and not a queen mother, it resembles the altars typically set up to honor queen mothers.  Both altars contain similar objects.  The altar tableau can be seen in the center, and it is surrounded by the brass commemorative heads of the king. (2)