Queen idia masks sale sets sothebys against art world. The queen and i is a 1992 novel and play written by sue townsend, a fictional bestselling political satire revolving round the topic of republicanism in the united kingdom. Here are the things that this book is not, although you might wish it to be. According to benin folktale, queen idia, wife of oba king ozolua was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550. May 04, 2006 buy elizabeth, the queen mother new ed by vickers, hugo isbn. This book is a celebration of the first queen mother of the ancient west african kingdom of benin, idia. That is why the queen mother in benin cultures cannot come into direct contact with her son once he becomes king. In 2009 he published the national bestseller queen elizabeth, the queen mother. Meet queen idia, the first queen mother of benin kingdom. Idia powerful in her own right as the obas wife and the queen mother of the next oba made moves. Thats because traditionally previous crown prince mothers were killed before their sons ascend the throne. A journey into the world of nigerian art the guardian.
May 25, 2017 to reward and honor her, esigie created a new position within the court called the iyoba or queen mother, which gave her significant political privileges, including a separate residence with its own staff. Packed with stunning revelations, this is the inside story of the queen mother from the new york times bestselling author who first revealed the truth about princess diana queen elizabeth the queen mother has been called the most successful queen since cleopatra. The title of queen mother, or iyoba, is given to the woman who bears the obas first son, the future ruler of the kingdom. In 2002 his bbc television series and book, queen and country, celebrated the queens golden jubilee and examined the changing face of britain during her reign. Great benin, also known as edo, was an important state that flourished in southern nigeria. She has been described as a great warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her sons reign as the oba of the edo people. The pendant mask is believed to have been produced in the early sixteenth century for the king or oba esigie, the king of benin, to honor his mother, idia.
Few women in world history have successfully led an army to defend their countrys sovereignty. Iyoba idia popularly known as idia ne iye esigie was renowned warriorqueen, skilled administrator and the first iyoba queen mother of the kingdom of bini benin in the presentday nigeria. Works of art commissioned by esigie are held in prominent museums including the metropolitan museum of art and the british museum. This book encourages the mother who is completely focused on her husband and children, it tells of how important her job is and how much an impact she can have on future generations. Nov 01, 2012 queen idia was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550. Esigie rewarded his key political and mystical advisor during these trials, his mother idia, with the title of iyoba queen motherthe first in a tradition of queen. Consort of king george vi, mother of queen elizabeth ii, and grandmother of prince charles, elizabeth angela marguerite boweslyonthe ninth of the earl of strathmores ten childrenwas born on august 4, 1900, and, certainly, no one could have imagined.
Idia was the first queen mother of benin kingdom and she paved the way for nigerian women of yesteryears and present times to have their part in decisionmaking as touching the political issues. Queen mother idia of the benin empire the benin ivory mask is a portrait of the queen mother idia of the benin empire in the 16th century, made like an african traditional mask. The queen idia of benin sits majestically on the baseball hat. This piece reveals over 50 amazing facts you never knew about the great benin kingdom the great benin kingdom is probably nigerias greatest empire. The identification with idia was made by oba akenzua ii in the mid20th century.
This miniature sculpture was worn as a pendant by the queen s son oba which means king esigie. But i believe this is not the last word on the queen mother and future biographies will have to be written in order complete the picture of the queen mother. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Oba esigie is said to have worn the mask as a pectoral. The dawn of the 15th century saw an explosion inthe art scene. Especially amusing were the quotations from the letters she wrote at the timea bit racy and saucy and fill of puns, double entendres, and other lively palaver. The country was named in 1975 after their former colonial master. Esigie started a tradition in benin by investing his mother with the title of iyoba queen mother and providing the eguaeiyoba palace of the queen mother in lower uselu for her use.
This ivory pendant mask is one of a pair of nearly identical works. For the first time, lady colin campbell shows us that the untold life of the queen mother is far more fascinating and moving than the official version that has been peddled ever since she became royal in 1923. The ogiso dynasty lasted for about 854 years plus an interregnum of 285 years between the reign of ogiso orire and ogiso odia, there was an interregnum of 70 years between ogiso owodo and oba. Queen idia became the first iyoba queen mother of benin when esigie conferred upon her the title and the eguaeiyoba palace of the queen mother. She was a strong warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her sons reign as the oba king of the edo people. May 03, 2012 queen elizabeth the queen mother in a 1993 photo. It was a shocking surprise because it had never happened before in the history of benin kingdom as the queen mother offered to go to the war front. Esigie started a tradition in benin by investing his mother with the title of iyoba queen mother and providing the eguaeiyoba palace of the queen mother in lower uselu. The king of benin can in a single day make 20,000 men ready for war, and, if need be, 180, 000, and because of this he has great influence among all the surrounding peoples his authority stretches over many cities, towns and villages.
The untold tale between oba esigie and iyoba idia of. W e set fire to the queen mother s house and those of several chiefs. Historically, the queen mother would have no other children and, instead, devote her life to raising her son. Instead, the woman most frequently represented is the queen mother, iyoba lit.
Queen mother pendant mask iyoba, 16th century, edo peoples, court of benin, nigeria, ivory, iron, copper, 23. As a consequence of idias role, the title of queen mother iyoba was introduced to the benin court, granting the mother of the oba king equal authority to that of senior town chiefs. Over 50 amazing facts you never knew about the great benin. Igueben town was founded when benin army leaders who were returning from the war with idah in 1516 decided to. After the barbaric tradition of killing the kings mother was successfully abolished by esigie, his mother was restored back to the palace and there he crowned her the eguaeiyoba palace of the queen mother making her the first iyoba.
Some kingdom of benin territorial expansions associated with queen mother idia include. However, as the author shows, she fulfilled her role as queen and later as queen mother of elizabeth ii with professionalism and panache. Queen idia the face of festac 77 queen idia was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who. Esigie s mother, idia, helped him in warfare, and he honored her with the title of iyoba queen mother. Queen idia was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550. The official biography reprints by shawcross, william isbn. The official and definitive biography of queen elizabeth the queen mother, the most beloved british monarch of the twentieth century. Second, esigie successfully defended against an invasion from the northern igala kingdom and captured their leader. At the start of the sixteenth century, oba esigie with the help of his mother queen idia, gathered together the benin army at unuame on the river osseovia and from there launched an attack which finally destroyed the might of udo and his giant halfbrother arhuanran. For a long time, he kept idia the mother of esigie there while oba esigie also fought to eradicate the bad custom of eliminating the obas mother. Benin bronze hip masks and benin oba commemorative heads. Queen idia, mother of esigie, the oba of benin rain. Ga tribe of present day ghana migrated from benin during oba udagbedos reign 129934 10.
His son recognizing her role introduced a special post in the administration for his mother called the iyoba, the queen mother. There are many sculptures of her face, which heralds. An authoritative and affectionate biography of the late queen mother. A canadian perspective on a sovereign who created and cultivated a special relationship with canada, it is the portrait of a queen who always evoked passionate reactions. Hence experts say the end is yet to be heard on the issues around the queen idia mask. The correct answer is g, which effectively connects esigie s choice to seek his mothers advice, explains the results, and sets up the rest of the paragraph which explains how this led to the new role of queen mother. Although images of women are rare in benins courtly tradition, these two works have come to symbolize the legacy of a dynasty that continues to the present day. The untold tale between oba esigie and iyoba idia of benin. This biography sheds fascinating light on the queen mother as a child and as a young woman. How love, compassion and spirituality became unfashionable it does seem that young people are the ones on the leading edge of. Popularly, she became the queen mother or the queen mum.
The queen mother was an extraordinary personality and to capture this one needs an extraordinary biography. Buy elizabeth, the queen mother new ed by hugo vickers isbn. She played a very significant role in the rise and reign of her son. The grave had been dung and her time to visit the land of her ancestors was closing in. His heir was educated under the portuguese education system.
That century saw the death of iyoba idia queen mother of oba esigie which occasioned. The kings mother was saved but at the cost of the king promising never to have direct contact with his mother again for life. Queen mother pendant mask iyoba edo peoples article. The official biography by william shawcross tristram hunt is disappointed by the lack of historical analysis in this indulgent and overlong portrait of the queen. There is excellent material in this book on issues relating. As time went on, esigie became a very powerful oba with his mother right by his side. It contains symbolic references to benins trade and diplomatic relationships with the portuguese and to the iyobas link to olokun, god of the sea. Queen mother pendant mask iyoba edo peoples smarthistory. Iyoba idia was allowed to rule at uselu as a ruler the hidden oba of benin. The official biography by william shawcross tristram hunt is disappointed by the lack of historical analysis in this indulgent and overlong portrait of the queen mum. All in all, it is a book one should read and should not miss. Jun 22, 20 esigie honored idia for helping to secure his claim to the throne and for the wise counsel that she provided him throughout his reign.
Queen elizabeth, the queen mother 1900 2002 presents the life of a remarkable woman. Queen idia, mother of oba esigie, king of benin, early. For the queen mother, writes william shawcross, as he trudges through the second half. Yet, history books, have over the years, deliberately left out some. She was personally involved in many of the wars of conquest by the oba and even led some of them herself. Queen elizabeth, the queen mother, has lived for over one hundred years. Suzi what do you think of when you read the title of this book, queen of the home. One of the most celebrated images in african art the 500yearold face of a queen mother who never saw her son after he became king, but fought for him in war. She is often portrayed to be a symbol of courage and moral support for britain. Esigie ultimately defeated his brother and conquered the igala, reestablishing the unity and military strength of the kingdom. Remarkable historical figures of ancient benin kingdom the. In 1515, there was a war between the idah and benin edo people, they wanted to reclaim their land, so oba esigie and queen idia went to war.
Queen idias mask will be the fourth book in our childrens book series and will pick up from where the black okuta left off. That is why the queen mother in benin cultures cannot come into direct. She led the kingdoms army in numerous wars, taking decisive actions to. She was a noted administrator and a great amazon and influence on her son, oba esigie. There are many sculptures of her face, which heralds the benin carving culture which the west envies. Aug 03, 2016 queen idias mask will be the fourth book in our childrens book series and will pick up from where the black okuta left off. Oba esigie could read and write portuguese fluently. Oba esigie created the title of iyoba nuuselu queen mother of uselu.
Oba esigie is said to have worn the mask as a pectoral during rites commemorating his mother. Idia became the first iyoba queen mother of benin when esigie conferred upon her the title and the eguaeiyoba palace of the queen mother queen idia hall university of ibadan 2019. Pendant mask of queen mother idia, edo people of benin, century. Im certain queen idia held her son the way mary held jesus in the michelangelos piece because a mother s embrace is a constant. Mar 10, 2011 this eliminated direct contact between the king and the queen mother and resulted in the removal of the queen mother to her own palace outside of the capital city in a village called uselu. Ap cbs news queen elizabeth, the queen mother, is the subject of a new book, and its full of revelations about the late royal. Consort of king george vi, mother of queen elizabeth ii, and grandmother of prince charles, elizabeth angela marguerite boweslyonthe ninth of the earl of strathmore s ten childrenwas born on august 4, 1900, and, certainly, no one could have imagined that her long life she died in 2002 would come to reflect a changing nation over the course of an entire century. She was queen to oba ozolua 1481 1504 known as ozolua the conqueror who greatly expanded the kingdom through warfare.
The oba may have worn it at rites commemorating his mother, although today such pendants are worn at annual ceremonies of spiritual renewal. Iyoba idias visage is the most widely known face of an african royal woman after the egyptian queen, ahmosenefertari or nefertiti. Thats because traditionally, crowned prince mothers were previously killed before their sons ascend the throne. Queen idia was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who. Oba esigie was an oba king of benin who ruled the ancient benin kingdom, now benin city.
His many books include queen and country, which celebrated the queens. Queen idia oba esigie mother is the first obas mother to be alive to see her son becoming an oba. Queen elizabeth the queen mothers life spanned the entire 20th century and through that century she witnessed decades of dramatic change. Shortly after george vis death, elizabeth began to be styled as her majesty queen elizabeth the queen mother because the normal style for the widow of a king, queen elizabeth, would have been too similar to the style of her elder daughter, now queen elizabeth ii. After reading this book, and assuming that the queen mother was as she is pictured, which i feel the author documented, it is a very sad story of no accountability on the part of others who could have done the right thing. Oba esigie created the school of astrology iwoki and was the first man to speak a foreign language portuguese in nigeria in the year 1518ad. Oba of benin pictured with his four beautiful wives as he. She played a very significant role in the rise and reign of her son, being described as a great warrior who fought relentlessly before and during her sons reign as the oba of the edo people. Royal family furious at nonsense book about the queen mother she was a national treasure beloved by millions as the worlds favourite grandmother. Esigie rewarded his key political and mystical advisor during these trials, his mother idia, with the title of iyoba queen mother the first in a tradition of queen mother advisors. Idia, the queen mother of oba esigie, commands a special place of honour in benin history. Jan 26, 2014 queen idia was the mother of esigie, the oba of benin who ruled from 1504 to 1550. Apart from these, queen idia was a woman of many firsts. Before the defeat, the two halfbrothers oba esigie and arhuanran met each.
He introduced a special post in the administration for his mother called the iyoba, the queen mother. The title of queen mother was introduced by the earlysixteenthcentury oba esigie to honor his mother, idia, for her help in averting two serious threats to his rule and the integrity of the. Iyoba idia popularly known as idia ne iye esigie was renowned warrior queen, skilled administrator and the first iyoba queen mother of the kingdom of bini benin in the presentday nigeria. She played a very significant role in the rise and reign of. Below are some of the things she achieved as listed by ihuanedo 1. In honour of her support, oba esigie created the title of iyoba queen mother granting her equal authority to that of a senior town chief these chiefs help the king run the towns. Buy elizabeth, the queen mother new ed by vickers, hugo isbn. However, this biography of the queen mother by lady colin campbell portrays a different and darker side to the queen. Images of the queen mother in benin court art jstor.
A brief history of queen idia the first queen mother of. This book is precisely what it purports to be a biography of the life and times of queen elizabeth the queen mother. Esigie asked the edo people the people of benin to let his mother live so that she could help him defeat his brother and save the kingdom, and they agreed to let him establish her as queen mother only if he was to never see his mother again. Iyoba nigeria this pendant mask made me fall in love with african masks many years ago. Queen idia was the first obas mother to be alive to see her son becoming an oba. It was usually worn by the king during ceremonial occasions. As time went on, esigie became a very powerful oba with his mother right by his side, protecting and advising her son on what steps and measures to take to. Queen idia, mother of esigie, the oba of benin rain queens. His books include alice, princess andrew of greece, the private world of the duke and duchess of windsor, cecil beaton, vivien leigh, loving garbo, and the. The pendant mask is believed to have been produced in the early sixteenth century for the king or oba esigie, the king of. Royal family furious at nonsense book about the queen.
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