New
New
Year 6
Edo religion
I can explain how some of the Edo's religious beliefs are visible in their artwork.
New
New
Year 6
Edo religion
I can explain how some of the Edo's religious beliefs are visible in their artwork.
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Lesson details
Key learning points
- Some of the objects held by the British Museum can tell us about the Edo's religious beliefs.
- One brass statue is a head, decorated with animals, that was used during worship of the god Osun.
- Osun was the Edo god of medicine and magic and was believed to command the animals of the rainforest.
- The head represents how the Oba was believed to have magic powers like the gods; the birds represent prophesy.
- The snakes represent Osun's soldiers and the Oba's ability to use magic to destroy his enemies.
Keywords
Deity - a deity is a god, goddess or supernatural being that some people worship and believe in
Prophecy - a prophecy is a prediction of the future
Common misconception
The Oba in Edo society was merely a religious figure.
While the Oba did have significant religious functions and was seen as having a special connection to the divine, his role also extended to that of political leader, responsible for governance, justice, and maintaining order within the kingdom.
Investigate what thunderstones are. Or recreate the statue of Osun's head from clay.
Teacher tip
Content guidance
- Depiction or discussion of violence or suffering
Supervision
Adult supervision recommended
Licence
This content is © Oak National Academy Limited (2025), licensed on Open Government Licence version 3.0 except where otherwise stated. See Oak's terms & conditions (Collection 2).
Lesson video
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Starter quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
The Kingdom of Benin began in the Century.
Q2.
The rulers of the Edo people were called...
Q3.
Which of these best describes female rulers in the Kingdom of Benin?
There were no female rulers; women were seen as too weak to rule.
Women could rule on their own, as a queen, if there were no suitable men.
Q4.
Oba was considered a great leader by the people of the Kingdom of Benin.
Q5.
The Oba was regarded as divine, as it was thought that he had a connection to the...
afterlife
spirit world
animal kingdom
Q6.
At their palace, the Obas would meet with their officials and conduct ceremonies.
Exit quiz
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6 Questions
Q1.
The Edo people believed that Osun was the god of...
love
war
Q2.
A is a god, goddess or supernatural being that some people worship and believe in.
Q3.
The British Museum currently holds a brass statue of Osun's...
torso
entire body
arms
Q4.
The four birds on top of the British Museum's Osun statue’s head represent...
Osun's warriors and the Oba's magical ability to defeat and destroy his enemies.
the Oba's power to bring destruction, like lightning.
Q5.
The snakes coming out of the nostrils of the British Museum's Osun statue’s head represent...
Osun's protection and the ability the Oba had to make prophecies.
the Oba's power to bring destruction, like lightning.
Q6.
The thunder-stones on the head of the British Museum's Osun statue represent...
Osun's protection and the ability the Oba had to make prophecies.
Osun's warriors and the Oba's magical ability to defeat and destroy his enemies.
Additional material
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