Idia

Edo · mortal · eweka dynasty · mortal

Mortal first Iyoba (Queen Mother) of Benin, mother of Oba Esigie. On Ozolua's death she championed Esigie against his brother Arhuaran of Udo in the succession war and was credited with his victory and with his triumph in the Idah war through her counsel and reputed mystical powers. Esigie created the Iyoba office and the Eguae-Iyoba palace for her; the two Idia ivory pendant masks (British Museum + Met Museum) are her court-portraits and the most globally recognizable Benin court objects. Carried in the registry only implicitly (Esigie's prose names her) until materialized here. Mortal class.

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