Oba Hunting

Magnificent representation of an Oba dressed in his hunting dress. in the company of a leopard. The leopard is an attribute of royalty, only the king can use this symbol, which represents strength, agility, beauty and intelligence. It is the royal animal par excellence. The origin of this custom seems to be found in a legend about the creation of the kingdom of Benin, according to which it would be the result of the union of the princess Aligbonudaughter of the Yoruba king of Allada (Benin) and panther Agasu who he found fortuitously in a forest while he was gathering firewood. It is probably the same leopard that killed the Oba Ewuaré, who was resting under the branch where a leopard was found. From this date on, the leopard sacrifice ceremony is held annually. The Oba is always accompanied by a leopard and a dwarf. This royal statue wears on its waist as a clasp to hold its dress, as a distinctive badge of its royalty, a reduced leopard head.