Pair Of Yoruba Pins

Pair of Yoruba "Edan" staves in bronze (Nigeria)

17.5 cm high without base.
With base: approximately 20.5 x 13 x 7 cm.
Beginning of the 20th century.

One of the most powerful religious communities among the Yoruba is the Ogboni community, which is composed of esteemed elders. They would wear a chain linking a pair of bronze staves called Edan - one male and one female, each joining their hands in the traditional Ogboni greeting. They represent the male and female forms of the deity Onile, also called the owner of the earth.
This beautiful pair of staves is also representing these dual figures making the traditional Ogboni greeting. The holes on top of their heads were used to join them through a chain.